Government of India

Report of the
Inter-Ministerial Committee
for
Boosting Exports from MSME Sector

Ministry of Finance
July 2013
 THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE FOR BOOSTING
EXPORTS FROM THE MSME SECTOR

Chairman
Shri R.S.Gujral
Finance Secretary

Member Member
Shri S.R. Rao Shri Sumit Bose
Commerce Secretary Revenue Secretary

Member Member Member

Shri Madhav Lal Shri Rajiv Takru Shri Raghuram Rajan
Secretary MSME Secretary, Financial Services Chief Economic Advisor
 PREFACE

We have great pleasure in submitting the Report of the Inter-Ministerial

Committee appointed for boosting exports from MSME sector in India. The Report
has been prepared over the past 4 months starting in April, 2013.

The approach adopted by the Committee was to examine the gaps/

inadequacies/lacunae which may be obstructing the growth of exports from the
MSMEs in India. Apart from examining above said issues related to MSMEs, the
Committee also took into consideration sector-specific and market specific issues
related to MSMEs.

The Committee had discussed with different departments dealing with MSMEs
and working in sectors with large export potential. Suggestions were asked from the
different Export Promotion Councils and Industry Associations on the issues and the
problems faced by them. Inter Ministerial meetings were held with 17 Industries
Associations and Export Promotion Councils who had responded to the requests sent
to them for their inputs. The Committee would like to express their gratitude to the
representatives of the Associations and Councils Members of the MSME industry
who generously gave their time and shared their knowledge on these issues.

The Committee would also like to place on record their gratitude to the Cabinet
Secretary for entrusting this responsibility on the Committee Members.

R. S. Gujral
Chairman
 Summary of Major Recommendations

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) play a crucial role in providing
employment opportunities and help in industrialization of rural & backward
areas also. MSMEs are complementary to large industries as ancillary units, and
this sector contributes enormously to the socioeconomic development of the
country.

Cabinet Secretary appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to suggest short

and medium term measures to enhance exports from MSME sector in India. The
Committee reviewed the MSME sector from the export perspective and held
discussions with different industry associations dealing with MSME’s export
products.

The Committee notes that the major problems for the MSMEs relate to the
availability and cost of credit, marketing support, improving productivity,
technology/skill upgradation, infrastructure and the institutional framework for
the MSMEs.The Committee also notes that there are issues related to specific
products like Chemicals, Plastic, Leather, Handicrafts, Textiles and Agricultural
Products and specific markets. On each of the issues the Committee has made
suggestions for immediate implementation and for the medium term.

The major recommendations of the Committee are as follows:

Availability and Cost of Credit: - An additional interest subvention of 2% for

those exporters who repay on a timely basis; reduction of the spread on foreign
currency credit to LIBOR + 2%; automatic increase in foreign currency limits
due to rupee depreciation; banks to aim for at least 40% export credit to MSMEs
and targets for banks to increase MSME borrowers by 10% annually until 2017.

Marketing Support: - Enhancement of budget and scope under MDA/MAI

schemes; greater focus on brand building and trade fairs; double income tax
deduction for marketing expenses; support for E-Commerce and a focus on Asia.

Productivity/Technology/Skill Upgradation:- Modification in labour laws to

enable more overtime hours and employment of women in night shifts with
necessary safety; enhancement of technology upgradation schemes with both
capital subsidy and interest subvention; setting up of
research/resource/product development centres and linkages with the technical
institutions and CSIR laboratories.

Infrastructure for MSMEs: 24*7 facilities for export consignments at major air
cargo/sea port complexes; enhancement of ASIDE scheme and development of
MSME clusters near Highways/Rail Corridors.

Incentives/Taxes related issues: A differential corporate/income tax regime for

MSME exporters; separate ECGC policy for MSMEs to reduce costs; removal of
service tax on conversion of export proceeds remittances and a host of issues
which will reduce transaction costs in exports.

(i)
Institutional Framework: Constitution of a Standing Committee of Secretaries
to resolve policy and implementation related issues; greater coordination at the
ground level between Customs and DGFT offices.

Sector Specific Issues : Based on the suggestions received from sector export
councils/associations, the Committee recommends a cess of 0.1% on the
production of chemical and Plastics, for creating a fund for technology
upgradation for the two sectors; additional budgetary support for handicrafts
sector, enhancing the support under Integrated Leather Development Scheme;
calibrate the exports of cotton yarn; avoid unintended exclusions of fabric items;
amendment of APMC Acts for enabling direct purchase of horticulture/vegetable
items from farmers by exporters; greater infrastructure support(testing labs,
pack houses) for processed agriculture exports.

General Recommendations: These include increase in capital investment limits

in the definition of MSMEs and leveraging of defence offsets to support MSME
exports.

The Committee was conscious of the fact that a number of the recommendations
would increase the budgetary expenditures/reduce tax revenue. However,
keeping in view the Current Account Deficit, there is an imperative need to boost
exports. It is in this context that the Committee has recommended that fiscal
benefits/tax related incentives may be limited to 5 years.

(ii)
 Table of Contents

Page No.
Preface
Summary of Major Recommendations (i)
Abbreviations (v)
1. Background 1
1.1 Challenges for India 1
2. Trade Scenario 3
2.1 Global Trade Scenario 3
2.2 Outlook for 2013-2014 4
2.3 India’s Exports Scenario 5
3. Role of MSMEs 7
3.1 Global MSME Scenario 7
3.2 Role of MSMEs in India 7
3.3 Role of MSMEs in Indian Exports 8
3.4 Major Issues Concerning the MSME sector 9
4. Formation of The Committee 11
4.1 Committee Constitution 11
4.2 Mandate of Other Committees 11
4.3 Suggestions Received in Review Meeting of March, 2013 11
5. Recommendations of The Committee 12
5.1 Availability and Cost of Credit 12
5.2 Marketing Support 14
5.3 Productivity/Technology/Skill Upgradation of MSMEs 15
5.4 Duties/Indirect Taxes/Incentives Related Issues 18
5.5 Infrastructure 20
5.6 Institutional Framework 21
5.7 Sector Specific Issues 22
5.8 Specific Market Related 27
5.9 General Recommendations 28
5.10 Concluding Remarks 29
Annexures
I. Policy framework for MSME in different countries 31
II. Definition of MSME in different countries 40
III. Members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for boosting
exports from MSME sector 41
IV. Inter-Ministerial Committee for accelerating Manufacturing
in MSME Sector 42
V. Second Task Force on Transaction Cost in Exports 43
VI. List of participants who attended meetings of Inter-Ministerial
Committee 44
VII. Suggestions received in the Review Meeting on 15.03.2013 48
VIII. Suggestions & recommendations of various associations 50

Bibliography 80
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AAIEP Advisory Assistance to Industry for Export Promotion

AEPC Apparels Export Promotion Council
APEDA Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
AQCS Animal Quarantine & Certification Services
ASIDE Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for
ASSOCHAM The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
BRC Bank Realization Certificate
CAD Current Account Deficit
CAGR Compound Annual Growth Rate
CBEC Central Board Of Excise & Customs
CEPC Carpet Export Promotion Council
CETP Common Effluent Treatment Plant
CGTMSE Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSMEs
CHEMEXCIL Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Export Promotion
CII Confederation of Indian Industry
CMA Credit Monitoring Arrangements
CONCOR Container Corporation of India Ltd
CPSE Central Public Sector Enterprises
DAHD&F Department Of Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fishery
DCPC Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
DDG Deputy Director General
DEPB Duty Entitlement Pass Book
DFS Department of Financial Service
DGCIS Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics
DGFT Directorate General of Foreign Trade
DEITY Department of Information Technology
DOC Department of Commerce
DST Department of Science and Technology
ECB External Commercial Borrowings
ECGC Export Credit Guarantee Corporation
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EEPC Engineering Export Promotion Council
EFC Expenditure Finance Committee
EPCG Export Promotion Capital Goods
EPCH Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
EU European Union
EXIM Export Import
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
(v)
FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
FIEO Federation of Indian Export Organization
FISME Federation of Indian micro and Small & Medium Enterprises
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GJEPC Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council
GVC Global Value Chain
HEPC Handloom Export Promotion Council
ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural Research
ICD Inland Container Depot
ICICI Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
ICT Information and Communications Technology
IEBR Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources
IFC International Finance Corporation
ISDS Integrated Skill Development Scheme
ISO Indian Standard Organization
ITES Information Technology Enabled Services
MAI Market Access Initiative
MDA Market Development Assistance
MNCs Multi National Companies
MLFPS Market Linked Focused Product Scheme
MoFPI Ministry of Food Processing Industries
MSME Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise
NMCP National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme
NSIC National Small Industries Corporation
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
PCFC Preshipment Credit in Foreign Currency
PHARMEXCI Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council
PSUs Public Sector Undertakings
R&D Research and Development
RBI/GOI Reserve Bank of India/Government Of India
SEZs Special Economic Zones
SIDBI Small Industrial Development Bank of India
SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio
SSI Small Scale Industries
TED Terminal Excise Duty
TEXPROCIL Textile Export Promotion Council
TUFS Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme
UAE United Arab Emirates
VAT Value Added Tax
WTO World Trade Organization

(vi)
 Chapter 1

BACKGROUND

The twin challenges of Fiscal Deficit (FD) and Current Account Deficit (CAD) are
a matter of serious concern for the country. While the issue of FD was
examined by the Kelkar Committee in 2012 which set out a roadmap over the
next few years; issues relating to the CAD have now been receiving focused
attention from different agencies, both in India and abroad.
1.1 Challenges for India

1.1.1. Current Account Deficit

A key challenge is to bring India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) to sustainable

levels. The deficit has widened to a record 4.8% of GDP in 2012-13; far above
what the Reserve Bank of India considers to be a sustainable level viz. CAD
between 2.4 to 2.8 % of GDP1. The key reason for the large current account
deficit lies in the trade deficit having ballooned; with the high dependence on oil
and gold imports, which alone account for virtually half of the total imports. To
understand the pressure that these two items have put on the BOP, it is
instructive to note that net of oil and gold imports, CAD last year would have
been in surplus of 3.8 % of GDP (in contrast to the actual deficit of 4.8% of
GDP). This year and perhaps next year too, India has to find over US $ 75
billion to finance the CAD. Boosting merchandise exports through greater
diversification across destinations and products is absolutely essential to bridge
the trade deficit; but this cannot be achieved without boosting productivity and
exportable surplus, ensuring export credit at competitive rates, providing
marketing support, and enhancing transportation & ports infrastructure.

1.1.2 Fiscal Deficit

The second challenge is qualitative and quantitative fiscal consolidation:

Together with the current account deficit, the high fiscal deficit makes the
Indian economy more vulnerable to shocks than most emerging markets. A new
fiscal consolidation path with fiscal deficit at 5.3 percent of GDP in 2012-13
and 4.8 percent of GDP in 2013-14 was announced by the Government. The
achievement in 2012-13 has been creditable, of restricting fiscal deficit to 4.9%
of GDP. India’s twin deficits have adversely affected macro stability by pushing
up inflation, leaving less room for monetary accommodation.
1.1.3. Inflation

The third challenge, very much related to the previous one, is the high and
sticky inflation. Efforts in the past months have brought down headline WPI
inflation to about 7 percent and core inflation to about 4.2%. It is food inflation
that is worrying. India’s persistently high inflation is a fallout of myriad factors
that are both cyclical and structural in nature. Containing inflation near the
comfort zone of 4 to 5 percent is necessary to facilitate sustainable growth.
1
WPS (DEPR) : 16/2012, Sustainable Level of India’s Current Account Deficit, Reserve Bank of India

1
1.1.4. Manufacturing Sector Growth

The fourth challenge is to boost the manufacturing sector: Being a primarily

services driven economy, the share of manufacturing has been stagnant at a
mere 16 percent of total GDP. India’s Asian peers, such as China, South Korea
and Taiwan, have immensely benefited from a strong manufacturing sector,
which enables greater employment creation, attracts higher and stable foreign
direct investment and bolsters infrastructure development. The government has
approved a National Manufacturing Policy aimed to increase the share of
manufacturing in GDP from the current 16 percent to 22 percent in a decade,
and in turn to create millions of jobs and add capacity to sustain the pace of
economic growth. However the progress on implementation of the NMP has
been somewhat slow.

2
 Chapter 2

TRADE SCENARIO
2.1 Global Trade Scenario

During the period 2008‐09 from peak to trough, world merchandise trade
volumes contracted by 19 per cent2. By January 2009, nine out of ten countries
recorded a contraction in exports. World trade growth decelerated sharply in
2011, as the global economy struggled under the influence of financial
uncertainty, natural disasters and civil conflict. All of these factors combined to
produce below average growth in trade in 2011. The recovery from the 2008
crisis has so far clearly been driven by the emerging economies. Below-trend
recovery of global trade is almost fully explained by the weaker import demand
in developed economies, and recurring bouts of uncertainty regarding the Euro-
zone. Import demand declined to 21 per cent3 below trend by 2009, and did not
catch up thereafter.

World trade growth fell to 2.0% in 2012 (down from 5.2% in 2011).It is expected
to remain sluggish in 2013 at around 3.3%, which is below the average rate of
5.3% for the last 20 years (1992–2012)4 and well below the pre-crisis average
rate of 6.0% (1990– 2008), as the economic slowdown in Europe, and stagnant
growth in USA and Japan continues to suppress global import demand. Flagging
output and high unemployment in developed countries reduced imports and fed
through to a lower pace of export growth in both developed and developing
economies. Slightly improved economic prospects for the United States in 2013
would only partly offset the continued weakness in the European Union, whose
economy is expected to remain flat or even contract slightly this year, according
to consensus estimates.

2
International Financial Discussion Papers, Number 1017, March 2011
3
Source: UN/Deptt. of Economic and Social Affairs, (http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/index.html)
4
Source: WTO site (http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres13_e/pr688_e.htm)
3
 The following charts show the biggest exporters of the world and the
composition of world trade in 2012.

Biggest Exporters in 2012

China
11%
United States of America
9%
Germany
8% Japan

61% 4% Netherlands

4% France

3% Others (including India 1.7%)

Source- International Trade Center (ITC) statistics

(http://www.intracen.org/trade-support/trade-statistics)

Top World Exports in 2012

Mineral fuels, oils, distillation
products, etc
Electrical, electronic equipment
19%
Machinery, nuclear reactors,
boilers, etc
41% Vehicles other than railway,
12% tramway
Pearls, precious stones, metals,
coins, etc
Plastics and articles thereof
11%

3%
Optical, photo, technical,
3% 4% 7% medical, etc apparatus
Others

Source- International Trade Center (ITC) statistics

(http://www.intracen.org/trade-support/trade-statistics)

2.2 Outlook for 2013-2014

Economic conditions improved modestly in the third quarter of 2012, with global
growth increasing to about 3 percent. The main sources of acceleration were
emerging market economies, where activity picked up broadly as expected, and
the United States, where growth surprised on the upside. Growth in the United
States is forecast to average 2 percent in 2013, rising above trend in the second
half of the year. The near-term outlook for the euro area has been revised
downward. Growth in emerging markets and developing economies is on track to
build to 5.5 percent in 2013. Nevertheless, growth is not projected to rebound to
the high rates recorded in 2010–115.

5
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/update/01/
4
 Trade in the early part of 2013 will remain sluggish because of weak import
demand in Europe, even as conditions gradually improve elsewhere, because of
the large weight of the EU in world imports (32% in 2012 including intra EU
trade; 15% excluding it). But weakness in advanced economies will affect
external demand, as well as the terms of trade of commodity exporters, given the
assumption of lower commodity prices in 2013. China’s exports may be
hindered by the slowdown in Europe, but considering the fact that US is now its
biggest trading partner owing to EU crisis, part of the slowdown in Europe can
be compensated by the slight improvement in US economy. China’s GDP growth
is expected to remain strong compared to the rest of the world in 2013, which
should provide support for imports from other countries. In the light of these
developments, WTO forecasts a small pickup in world trade volume growth to
3.3% in 2013, from 2.0% in 2012. World trade volume growth for 2014 is
expected to improve to 5.0%6.

2.3 India’s Exports Scenario

Even after the global financial crisis, and subsequent slowdown since 2008 of
economies around the world, Indian exports continued to grow positively till
2011. As per WTO’s International Trade Statistics 2012, India was ranked as the
19th largest merchandise exporter in the world, with a share of 1.7% of the
global exports; and in commercial services trade, India was ranked as the 8th
largest exporter with a share of 3.3% of world exports. Indian exports recorded
one of the highest export growths among the major trading nations of the world
in 2011. However, exports witnessed a considerable slowdown during 2012.
During 2012-13, Indian merchandise exports showed a negative growth rate of
around 2% as compared to a positive growth of 21.9% during the financial year
2011-12. Declining exports has resulted in increasing trade deficit. Current
Account Deficit (CAD) reached 4.8% of GDP in 2012-137.

An analysis of the export indicates that the steepest decline has been in the
export of Iron Ore with a 65% decline in 2012-13 as compared to 2011-12.The
decline in Iron Ore has been from the level of $ 6.03 billion in 2009-10 to $ 1.61
billion in 2012-13.Other significant product groups showing a decline in export
in 2012-13 vis-à-vis 2011-12 are gems & jewellery (-3.5%), engineering goods
(-3.1%), electronic goods (-9.27%), readymade garments of all textiles
(-5.76%).However, certain products still showed an increase during 2012-13,
like rice (+25.5%), spices (+1.8%), oil meals (+19.84%), processed minerals
(+3.2%), leather and leather manufacturers (+ 1.1%), drugs and pharmaceuticals
(+10.31%), basic chemicals (+10.93%), cotton yarn/fabrics/madeups and
handloom products (+8.56%) and petroleum products (+7.07%).

As per the information received from the Deptt. of Commerce, Indian total
merchandise exports and imports amounted to approximately 43.2 percent of
GDP in 2011-12, with merchandise exports accounting for 16.5% of GDP.
Services sector, a major driving force of the Indian economy, contributes around
25% of total trade8. It accounts for around 40% of total exports and 20% of total

6
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres13_e/pr688_e.htm
7
Annual Report 2012-13, Deaprtment of Commerc
8
Department of Commerce, Internal Communication
5
 imports. India’s share of services’ exports in world exports of services was 3.3%
in 2011 and has been increasing faster than the share of Indian merchandise
exports in world exports. The share of top five commodities in Indian
merchandise exports during the period 2012-2013 is shown below:-

Share of Top five commodities in Indian exports during 2012-13

Petroleum Products

Engineering Goods
19.96%
37.63% Gems & Jewellery

18.87% Drugs, Pharmaceuticals and Fine

Chemicals
RMG of all Textiles
14.41%
4.29% Others
4.84%
9

Source: DGCIS Data

India has in the last few years sought to significantly diversify its trade from
advanced economies of Europe and America to Asia and Africa. Region-wise share of
total Indian exports during April-November, 2012-13 is shown in the following pie-
chart:

Share of different Countries in Indian Exports during April-November, 2012-13

1.3 0.5

9.6 USA
19.5
Europe
Asia
18.7 Africa

50.4 CIS & Baltics

Others

10

Source: Annual Report 2012-13 Department of Commerce

However, new export markets have their own challenges and costs. This is
particularly so in the case of MSME exporters due to their smaller size,
infrastructure & finances; highlighting the need for higher marketing support.

6
 Chapter 3

ROLE OF MSMES

3.1 Global MSME scenario

MSMEs play a significant role in the global economy as well as in the domestic
economy, with a high revenue and employment generation coming from them,
particularly in emerging economies. 11In OECD economies, MSMEs account for
over 95% of the firms, 60-70% of employment, 55% of GDP and generate the
largest share of new jobs. In developing countries, more than 90% of all firms,
outside the agricultural sector, are MSMEs, generating a significant portion of
GDP. For example, in Morocco, a lower middle Income country, 93% of
industrial firms are MSMEs and account for 38% of production, 33% of
investment, 30% of exports and 46% of employment. In Bangladesh, a low-
income country, enterprises that have less than 100 employees account for 99%
of firms and 58% of employment. Similarly, in Ecuador, an upper middle
income country, 99% of all private companies have less than 50 employees and
account for 55% of employment. Globally MSMEs had grown by 6% from the
year 2000 to 2009, with Europe and Central Asia experiencing a growth of 15%.
In half of the high income economies, formal MSMEs employed at least 45% of
the workforce, compared to only 27% in lower income economies12, which
further highlights the importance of MSMEs in economic development and job
creation. Globally, MSMEs employ one-third of the working population. East
Asia and the Pacific have the highest ratio of MSME employment to total
employment, with percentage in China being as high as 80%; therefore,
highlighting the importance of MSMEs to the global economy and their
importance in terms of the role they play in the Global Value Chain.
Countries across the globe use various definitions to define small and medium
enterprises. The parameters on which SME sector is generally defined are:
a. Capital investment on plant and machinery;
b. Number of workers employed; and
c. Volume of production or turnover of business.

The policy framework for the MSMEs in some of the countries has been given in
Annexure I. Definitions of MSMEs in various countries across the globe
(including India) is given in Annexure II.

3.2 Role of MSMEs in India

MSMEs contribute significantly to employment generation and development of

rural areas. MSME sector is one of the key drivers for India’s transition from an
agrarian economy to an industrialized economy. Around 50% of MSMEs in India
are owned by underprivileged groups, which shows how MSMEs contribute to

10
http://iicpsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IICPSD-Note-on-MSMEs-and-Inclusive-Market-Composite-Index-final.pdf
11
http://www.ficci.com/spdocument/20249/Grant-Thornton-FICCI-report.pdf
7
 improve the entrepreneurial skills and economic empowerment. MSMEs feed
local consumer markets and international value chains.

As per information in the annual report of MSME 2012-13, MSMEs account for
a large share of industrial units which can be seen from the fact that in the year
2011-12, the total number of enterprises in MSME Sector was 447.73 lakhs
with total employment of 1012.59 lakhs. MSMEs are accordingly also effective
vehicles of employment generation. The estimated numbers of enterprises and
employment have increased at an annual compound growth rate of 28.02% and
26.42% respectively. MSMEs contribution to rural development can be observed
from the fact that 200.19 lakhs of the working enterprises were located in rural
areas, which accounted for 55.34% of the total working enterprises in MSME
sector; whereas 161.57 lakhs (44.66%) of the working enterprises were located
in urban areas13. The sector currently produces more than 6,000 quality
products, ranging from handloom saris, carpets and soaps to pickles, auto and
machine parts targeting both domestic and international markets. Provided
necessary support, MSMEs are likely to experience a high growth path, and the
share of MSMEs in the country’s GDP is expected to touch double-digits by the
end of this decade, from the current 8.72 per cent.
3.3 Role of MSMEs in Indian Exports
The share of MSMEs in India's total exports was estimated to be around 43 per
cent in 2011-12. The share of the top six commodities which account for about
70% of total MSME exports is as shown below:14

Share of Top Six Products in MSME Exports

Pearls, Precious stones, Metals,
Coins etc.
Electrical, Electronic Equipments

31.7 34.5 Articles of Apparel and Accessories

Pharmaceutical Products

3.4 7.9
11.1
5.3
6.1

Source: Ministry of MSME, Annual report 2012-13

Out of the major products of MSME exports, gems and jewellery show a decline
of 3.5% as compared to the previous year.Electronic items show a decline of
9.27% in 2012-13.Readymade garments of all textiles show a decline of 5.76% in
2012-13. Engineering goods as a total group show a decline of 3.1%.However,
drugs and pharmaceuticals had shown an increase of 10.3% and basic
chemicals had shown an increase of 10.93%.

13
Annual Report, MSME 2012-13, Ministry of MSME

8
 Even in the first three months of the current year 2013-14, engineering goods
export shows a decline of 6.29% as compared to April-June, 2012.Electronic
goods show a decline of 13.25%, gems and jewellery show a decline of 13.13%,
basic chemicals show marginal decline.However, readymade garmets of all
textiles are indicating a positive trend of 11.1%, cotton yarn/fabrics/madeups
and handloom products show 13.29% increase, leather and leather
manufactures show 8.4% increase and marine products exhibit a 27.8%
increase in exports.

The main markets for the 20 most-exported MSME product groups, which
accounted for more than 90 per cent of MSME exports from 2009 to 2012,
include the USA, European Union (EU), UAE, Turkey, Singapore, Hong Kong,
Israel and Saudi Arabia. The MSME sector accounts for around 45 per cent of
total manufacturing output15. MSME sector has about 36 million working
enterprises and 80 million employment throughout the country. It has been
continuously growing at a rate of 12-13% per annum, far above the large sector.
The MSME sector contributes about 45 per cent of the manufacturing output
and 43 percent of the total exports of the country, and 8.72 per cent of the
country’s GDP. MSME exports have expanded at an annual average growth rate
of 11.0% during 2007 to 201116. For the period 2009-12, MSME exports are
estimated at US $ 325 billion. MSME exports mainly consist of pearls, precious
stones, metals, electrical, electronic equipment, pharmaceutical products,
organic chemicals, articles of iron & steel etc.As per the information received
from the ministry of MSME, for the year 2011-12, MSME exports are estimated
at US $ 131 billion constituting 43% of total exports of the country. Participation
in exports gives MSMEs exposure to global trends, and stimulates innovative
ideas and designs.

3.4 Major issues concerning the MSME sector

Although Indian MSMEs are a diverse and heterogeneous group, they face some
common problems, as follows:-

a. Lack of availability of adequate and timely credit. The major dependence for
some sectors (eg. handicrafts) is for larger working capital requirement, which
directly impacts their production cycle
b. High cost of credit, with interest rates of 14-16%.
c. Collateral requirements being insisted upon by banks
d. Limited access to equity capital for MSMEs
e. Marketing is one of the critical areas where MSMEs face problems including
product differentiation, brand building, customized tailor-made services,
clientele building, after sales servicing etc. Many entrepreneurs are not entering
in the field of exports due to lack of market knowledge, availability of a growing
domestic market, and the complexities of international trade.

15
http://www.business-standard.com/article/sme/msme-share-in-exports-was-43-in-2011-12-113060300986_1.html
16
Ministry of MSME, Annual report
9
f. Limited sclale of oprations leads to low production capacity (and consequent low
exportable surplus), which is related to the maximum limits for capital
investment for definition of MSME
g. Problems of designing, packaging and product display due to limited capacities-
financial and human
h. Inadequate infrastructure facilities, including power, water, roads, etc. which
are however not unique for MSMEs, but impact manufacturing more than
services
i. Low technology levels and lack of access to modern technology.
j. Lack of skilled manpower
k. Absence of a suitable mechanism which enables the quick revival of viable sick
enterprises and allows unviable entities to close down speedily.
l. Lack of coordination among the various organizations involved in the promotion
of MSMEs, including organizations of the State Governments, and poor linkages
with the institutional stakeholders in the private sector. There is also
duplication of programmes run by various Ministries for the same target group
m. Lack of reliable and updated data base to help in monitoring the development
initiatives and formulation of appropriate schemes to meet the differential needs
of the heterogeneous beneficiaries.
n. Non availability of raw materials at a competitive cost, very often due to low
volumes
o. High transaction costs and procedural delays leading to high fixed costs.
p. Policy and procedural issues.

10
 Chapter 4

FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE

In order to examine three issues related to MSME’s, the Government of India

constituted three committees.
a. An Inter-Ministerial Committee for boosting exports from MSME sector headed
by Finance Secretary (Detail in Annexure III)
b. An Inter-Ministerial Committee for accelerating manufacturing in MSME sector
headed by Secretary MSME (Detail in Annexure IV)
c. A Task Force on Transaction Cost in Exports headed by DGFT (Details in
Annexure V)
4.1. Committee Constitution
The Cabinet Secretary constituted the Inter-Ministerial Committee for boosting
exports to suggest short and medium term measures to enhance exports from
the MSME sector. The Committee sought inputs from different Departments and
Industry Associations. Seventeen industry associations responded. Individual
meetings were held with the Associations and Departments. (List of persons who
participated in the meetings held is given in Annexure VI).The Committee also
examined the suggestions received in the meeting organized by Ministry of
Commerce on 15.03.2013.
4.2. Mandate of Other Committees
Further, keeping in view the mandate of other two Committees, this Committee
has only examined the specific issues related to exports mentioned by the
Associations; and has not examined in full detail the issues of transaction costs,
and boosting of production of MSMEs.
4.3. Suggestions Received in Review Meeting of March, 2013
In view of the importance of MSMEs in exports and some problems faced by
MSMEs, a meeting was organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on
15.03.2013 and chaired by the Cabinet Secretary regarding exports from MSME
sector. Various issues were discussed in that meeting regarding exports from
MSMEs.The issues highlighted covered the following areas: (Details in Annexure
VII)
a. Enhancement in MDA/MDA allocation or creation of an export development
fund
b. Availability of Dollar denominated credit
c. Support to E-commerce
d. Waiver of additional export obligation under EPCG for MSME exporters
e. Capacity building for exports
f. Providing design supports
g. Double Weightage for MSMEs along with other weightages
h. Reduction in premium and extension in coverage besides data on new buyers
i. MSMEs to focus on China.

These suggestions/issues, along with those received during the meetings with
the different Associations were examined, and helped the Committee in
preparing its recommendations.

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 Chapter 5

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee met the different industry Associations and discussed with their
representatives the various issues they face and suggestions to resolve them.
Inputs were also taken from the different Government departments and
agencies. The detailed suggestions are given in Annexure VIII. Based on the
suggestions received, the Committee makes the following recommendations.

5.1 Availability and Cost of Credit

The cost of credit and credit availability is perhaps one of the most important
factors for MSMEs. Availability of credit at internationally competitive rates is a
major issue facing the MSMEs in India. The Committee while recognizing the
limited room available for budgetary support, after reviewing the various
suggestions recommends the following:

5.1.1. Cost of Credit

The cost of export credit for MSMEs varies from 11-14% even after taking into
account the current 2% interest subvention available. This is on the higher side
compared to international standards. There is a need to lower the interest rate
for MSME exporters. Padmanabhan Committee (RBI) has also recommended
inclusion of export credit under priority sector lending and framing of a suitable
interest subvention policy for long term export credit. While credit to Micro and
Small enterprises is considered as Priority Sector lending, further support is
required for MSME exports. The Committee recommends that an additional 2%
interest subvention may be provided to MSME exporters who repay on a timely
basis. A separate sub-limit of say 8% for credit to MSME exporters, within the
overall priority sector limit may also be stipulated.

5.1.2. Receipt of Interest Subvention

The credit of interest subvention on a timely basis is essential for exporters.

Many banks reportedly pay the interest subvention only after delayed receipt of
the amount through RBI/Govt. The Committee recommends that RBI & MoC
should examine the reasons for delay; so as to ensure that interest subvention is
provided to all the exporters on a timely basis. Padmanabhan Committee (RBI)
has also recommended for a more prompt and efficient working of the scheme so
that the purpose of the scheme is fully achieved.

5.1.3. Foreign Currency Credit

Interest Rate on Export Credit in Foreign Currency is an important factor in

export competitiveness. Currently, the interest rate is as high as Libor + 4%. The
Committee recommends to consider whether the spread can be reduced to Libor
+ 2%. (Earlier it was stated to be LIBOR + 2.5 %.) Padmanabhan Committee also
recommends that banks may not charge a spread beyond a specific cap in
respect of export finance, for which refinance is being provided by RBI.
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5.1.4 Pre-shipment Credit in Foreign Currency – Conversion Losses

Pre-shipment Credit in Foreign Currency (PCFC) is a major component of export

credit. The Committee recommends that there is a need to verify if under PCFC,
the limits are converted into INR and on payment reconverted to USD leading to
losses for the exporter.

5.1.5 Automatic Increase in Credit Limit

When rupee is depreciating, there is a need to immediately increase the Export

Credit Limit. The Committee recommends that Export Credit Limit to MSME
Units may be increased by 20% automatically. Alternatively credit limits could
be set in US dollars wherever possible. The methodology for this needs to be
institutionalized

5.1.6 Swap Facilities

Under the swap arrangement, a bank can buy US dollars up to its eligible swap
limit from the RBI and further sell the same amount of dollars at the
prevailing market rates for swaps of a similar tenor. As recommended by
Padmanabhan Committee also, this Committee recommends that RBI may
consider the following regarding the swap facility scheme:
a. Swap facility scheme which is available till June 28, 2013 be extended for at
least 3 years with annual rollover,
b. RBI to provide 100% refinance under the scheme,
c. The fund for swap may be increased from USD 6.5 billion to USD 20 billion to
ensure adequate availability
d. 50% of the total fund should be earmarked for MSME units.

5.1.7 Increasing Access to Finance

The Committee received many suggestions about the ways to increase access to
finance for the MSME sector. The recommendations of the Committee are as
follows:
a. The Committee recommends that banks should aim that 40% of Export Credit is
earmarked by banks for MSMEs(in consonance with the share of MSMEs in
India’s total exports).
b. As also suggested by Padmanbhan Committee, this Committee suggests
inclusion of ‘export credit to MSMEs’ as an eligible sector for deployment of 50%
of the respective bank’s shortfall in priority sector lending, automatically to be
allocated to export credit for MSMEs in the subsequent year, with the balance
shortfall continuing to be deployed in RIDF.
c. Targets may be given to Banks to achieve a 10% increase in new MSME
enterprises borrowers on an annual basis between 2013-17. Banks should also
look at adding, say, 12 new exporting MSMEs per branch in their Semi Urban
and Urban branches every year.
d. The buyer’s credit limit under automatic route is recommended to be increased
from US $20 million to US $50 million.
e. A group should work out a uniform credit rating format and process, to bring
transparency and speed to this important issue.
13
 f. Relaxation of RBI’s external commercial borrowings (ECB) norms, so as to allow
all categories of MSME engineering exporters to raise ECBs for import of capital
goods and equipment.
g. Guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSMEs (CGTMSE)
may be increased to at least 10 times the present corpus.
h. Industry Associations can become an effective institutional mechanism for
facilitating credit flow to MSME sector. The model initiated by SIDBI in this
direction may be replicated by lead banks in their domain MSME clusters.
i. SIDBI and NSIC may be permitted to raise SLR bonds / Tax free bonds / Capital
Gain Bonds from the market, as per the eligibility limit fixed by GOI.
j. It is suggested to introduce a scheme called “Need for Factoring Services” with a
budgetary support of Rs.750 crore in the next 4 years under which assistance
would be provided for equity or margin money support for factoring companies.

5.2 Marketing Support

The need for better marketing and brand development was recognized to be a
major impediment in increasing exports. There is a need to focus more on the
marketing needs of the MSMEs to enhance their exports, many of which may
not involve cost to the exchequor. The broad recommendations of the Committee
in this regard are as follows:

5.2.1. Budget For MDA/MAI

The cost of accessing export markets by the MSME’s needs to be reduced
drastically. Greater support for organizing trade visits, trade promotion and
facilitation in major cities is ‘required’. The budget for the MDA scheme of DoC
is about Rs. 50 crores and the scheme allows support to a maximum of five
visits by an exporter with a total annual support of Rs. 7.10 lakhs (4 to different
focus areas and 1 to rest of the world). The Committee recommends that there is
a need to significantly increase the funds available for marketing; and
accordingly double the budgetary provisions for MDA/MAI schemes of DoC (from
present level of Rs.50 crores /Rs.180 crores to Rs. 100 crore/Rs. 300 crore
respectively).Further increases may be made in a gradual manner, based upon
absorptive capacity of export councils and take off of 2% interest equalization
scheme of Project exports, financed by EXIM Bank.

5.2.2. Scope of MDA/MAI

Exporters need to frequently incur soft expenditures like branding,
advertisement, promotional events for which financial availability is limited.
These expenses need to be encouraged through various means, including the
concept of allowing eligible companies to deduct against their taxable income
twice the amount of expenses incurred on certain export related qualifying
activities. The scope of MDA/MAI could be amended, if necessary, to include
such activities.

5.2.3 Convergence Of Schemes

Convergence of “Market Development Assistance” schemes run by Ministry of
MSME, NSIC, KVIC and Ministry of Commerce needs to be ensured.

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5.2.4 Focus On Asia
The Committee also noted that as 50% of India’s exports are to Asia, MDA/MAI
may focus more towards Asia. Greater pro-active support would be required
from commercial sections of Indian embassies in such countries.

5.2.5 Building Brand India

IBEF’s primary objective is to promote and create international awareness of the
‘Made in India’ label in markets overseas and to facilitate the dissemination of
knowledge of Indian products and services. Against this backdrop, a fund to
subsidize MSMEs’ marketing operations would be a step in the right direction.
An Export Development Fund may be created if necessary in association with
trade councils staffed with professionals having knowledge of MSMEs in India,
for selling to importers elsewhere.

5.2.6 Better Market Information

It was suggested that there is a need to create, for the benefit of MSMEs a
virtual market information cell on latest development on consumer preferences,
standards, regulations, etc. where MSMEs can be made aware. The Committee
recommends that it may be examined for implementation by industry Councils,
along with institutions like IIFT.Support for litigating barriers set up in different
countries could also be considered.

5.2.7 Support for E-Commerce

It was suggested that Support for E–Commerce be provided as E-Commerce
portals provide marketing support to MSME and the linked payment gateway
ensures payment without any risk to exporters. The Committee recommends
that all product EPCs may set up e-enabled sites for the respective product
groups; and DGFT may set up a website (as a new scheme) with support from
NIC. Padmanabhan Committee (RBI) also recommends support for E-commerce
to reduce transaction cost and to earn better price margins.

5.2.8. Support from large corporate exporters

Large corporate exporters may be enlisted to promote some of their domestic
MSME suppliers in foreign markets, perhaps as a part of their CSR
activities.This could also be incentivized.

5.3 Productivity/Technology/Skill Upgradation of MSMEs

The recommendations of the Committee are as follows:

5.3.1. Labour Law Modifications

Policy intervention was suggested for overcoming major non-compliance in
garment factories through two amendments in the Factories Act, 1948.
i). Overtime wages at the rate of one and one quarter times of the regular rate
(Section 59)

ii). The cap of 50 hours a quarter should be removed (Section 64).

15
 The Committee recommends that adjustments should be made and MoLE
should expeditiously examine this issue, especially regarding the restriction of
the overtime cap of 50 hours a quarter. The Central Act provides for 50 to 150
hours overtime. Karnataka has perhaps sent such an Amendment to MoLE.
Higher working hours greater than 8 hours to be allowed (with 5 working
days).Women may be allowed to work at night with safety mechanism in place.
Karnataka has perhaps also recommended to tweak Minimum Wage – with
lower wage prescribed for Backward Areas. The Committee recommends that
this may be implemented expeditiously.

5.3.2 Enhancement Of CLCSS

Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) provides upfront capital subsidy
on institutional finance for technology upgradation to SSI units, including tiny,
khadi, village and coir industrial units. Considering the special need for
enhancing productivity/technological upgradation of MSMEs, the Committee
recommends that the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy limit, currently Rs.1 crore,
may be allowed to be increased to Rs. 5 crore, and that Subsidy may also be
treated as Margin money. The Committee noted that the CLCSS of MSME is
presently only for machinery, and subsidy is 15%.The Committee recommends
that the subsidy level may be enhanced to 25%, and also recommends inclusion
of support for infrastructure and CETPs.Alternatively, while keeping the capital
subsidy level at 15%, an additional component of interest subvention (on the
lines of TUFS for textiles) could be implemented for the Engineering, Chemicals
& plastic goods sectors. Procedural issues regarding the CLCSS also need
streamlining. The Committee accordingly recommends increase in budgetary
provision for the CLCSS.For sustained financing support of the scheme, Govt.
may consider levy of a cess of 0.1% on the production by all engineering,
chemicals and plastic units.

5.3.3 Design Support

Design support and exposure to MSMEs is essential for better product
development. The Committee recommends that this may be considered, and
associations of MSMEs may be made Implementing Agencies, and the Existing
scheme of MSME be modified to provide both hard intervention
(infrastructure/common facility centre) and soft support (training/DPR
preparation).

5.3.4 Research/Resource Centres

It was suggested to allocate funds for setting up innovative research/resource
centre. The Committee noting that the value addition in knitted export is high,
recommends setting up of Centers at Tirupur, Kolkata and Ludhiana.In view of
Training/Skill Development being a significant component of the Resource
Centers, the Centers could be considered a part of Integrated Skill Development
Scheme (ISDS).

5.3.5 Process/ Product Development Centres

For quality product development, Process cum Product Development Centre
should be established in every cluster with technical staff for testing the
16
 products and to assist in development of the products. The Committee
recommends that Associations may provide the list of Product Clusters where a
Process cum Product Development Centre is required. Matter needs to be
examined for approval thereafter by MSME/DOC.

5.3.6. Tool Rooms

Towards enhancing skill level of workers of MSME sectors, setting up of 100
Tool rooms/Technology Development Centre is recommended

5.3.7. Common Facilities Centres

It was suggested that ‘clusters’ may be provided with Common Facility Centres
for quality testing, effluent treatment etc. The Committee recommends to
incorporate this in the relevant schemes, like the cluster scheme for Electronics.

5.3.8 Compilation Of Skill Development Schemes

There is a need to dovetail the various HRD schemes of DIPP, Ministry of HRD,
MoLE, Ministry of MSME and also State Governments, so that the maximum
utilization of funds for the MSMEs could be ensured. The Committee
recommends that Associations should compile details of all Skill Development
Schemes/Programmes of GOI, and help the MSME exporters to get maximum
benefit out of these schemes.

5.3.9. Linkages With Technical Institutions

To support technological innovation and design, technical institutions such as
IIT or NIT may ‘adopt’ export oriented MSME clusters. Preferably, ‘design clinics’
may be set up for MSME clusters. The Committee recommends that linkages of
each cluster with different technical institutions, including CSIR labs, must be
ensured.

5.3.10 Technology Acquisition Scheme

It was suggested that the Ministry of MSME, through its arm NSIC, can consider
looking at providing a platform for technological alliance for SSIs with Global
Companies. A Technology acquisition scheme to provide assistance in both,
development of indigenous R&D products as well as procurement of global
technology, could be considered.

5.3.11 Enhance Innovation

Innovation helps in continuous improvement of product quality. To enhance
innovation at low cost, a list of dead patents may be provided to SMEs. In this
regard, the Committee recommends that:
a. Indian Patent Office may do so, for local patents,
b. The Associations may inform of problems in access from foreign patent office, if
any
c. Possibility to use commercial offices in Indian Embassies be examined and
implemented.

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5.4. Duties/Indirect Taxes/Incentives Related Issues
There is a need to have a supportive duty and incentive structure for the MSME
sector, so that the manufactured product is at a competitive price at the
international level. Products of MSMEs need more incentives as MSMEs have a
limited resource base. While the Committee recognizes the fact that incentives can
be only short term stop gap arrangements, nevertheless, the Committee also
recognizes that the MSME units need more hand-holding and better risk
mitigation. In view of this, the Committee recommends the following:

5.4.1. Differential Tax Regime

Tax deductions for export turnover/ profit were a big incentive for boosting
exports (instead of focusing on domestic market). But with the movement
towards Direct Taxes Code, profit related deductions are being phased out. To
provide more incentive for exports and keeping in view the acute situation of
India’s CAD, the Committee recommends for consideration that export
turnover/ profit deduction for MSMEs may be introduced for a limited fixed
period of 5 years viz. 2014-15 till 2018-19.Alternatively, the Committee
recommends a differential tax regime (for 5 years), for MSME exports (with
exports profit being taxed at a lower rate of 5 to 10%). Further, for marketing
expenditure related to development of export market & sales (excluding export
sales commission), the Committee recommends 200% deduction in respect of
MSME exporters.

5.4.2. Double Weightage for MSMEs

Double weightage for MSMEs, along with other weightages for grant of
recognition as Status Holders, was suggested The Committee received
representation that higher rate of export concession/incentive should be given
to MSMEs exporters compared to concession/incentive given to large industries.

5.4.3 Removal of export incentives for large companies

Export incentives for large exporting units may be phased out and focused
incentives provided for the MSME sector. The Committee recommends that the
matter be considered by DGFT

5.4.4. Additional Incentive for High tech

It was suggested that Investment in High Tech Exports Units should be made
and policy measures may be taken to encourage entrepreneurs to move in this
direction. The Committee recommends that additional export incentives for
export of High Tech items need to be provided by Department of Commerce.

5.4.5 Reasonable Freight rates

The Committee received representation that because CONCOR (Container
Corporation) is having a monopoly, freight rates for export cargo were extremely
high. The Committee recommends that while freight rates need to be
commercially reasonable, differential rates for MSME export products could be
considered. The proposed Rail Tariff Authority would also be helpful in this
regard.

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5.4.6 High Cost of ECGC Cover
At present, ECGC reportedly requires banks to take insurance for the entire
export advance book while issuing whole turnover policy. The payment of
premium for covering the entire export advance book may work out to be an
expensive proposition for banks, as the margins are thin in corporate deals. The
Committee recommends that ECGC may consider introducing a new scheme for
MSMEs permitting banks to cover segment/sector specific portfolios. The
Committee also received representation for introduction of a separate ECGC
policy, with more friendly procedures to be implemented for Small & Micro
Exporters (based on Export Turnover). The Committee recommends ECGC to
examine this issue.

5.4.7. Specific Duty Drawback Rates

The Committee, while appreciating the need for rebatement of all taxes in the
export product noted that after discontinuation of Duty Entitlement Pass Book
(DEPB), there were various export products for which specific Duty Drawback
rates were not fixed. The Committee recommends that a list of items without a
Duty Drawback Rate may be provided by the export associations along with cost
and other data, so that CBEC/Duty Drawback Committee may take further
action to ensure fixation of separate Duty Drawback rates.

5.4.8. Inverted Duty Structure

The Committee received representation that the Custom duty on raw materials
used in a product should be lower than the import duty charged on the finished
products e.g. Felt used on lawn tennis balls, copper and zinc in brass rods etc.
The Committee recommends that different Associations should give a list of
items with no dual use – but with inverted duty structure. CBEC to examine the
matter thereafter, for appropriate rectification. Information on the relative value
added would also be required in order to rectify the disadvantages.

5.4.9. Advance Authorization

The Committee noted that Domestic suppliers who are having invalidation of
advance authorization cannot get the benefit of supplies made before applying
for advance authorization. The Committee recommends that this issue, being a
procedural one, be examined by DGFT.

5.4.10. Expeditious Rebates/ Refunds

In order to expedite the process of rebates and refund for MSME exporters, the
Committee received various suggestions like:

a. The rebate claims be filed electronically;

b. The hard copies of documents such as shipping bills, ARE – I duly signed by
customs etc. may be submitted manually;
c. If possible the CENVAT rebate claims may be paid electronically;
d. If possible the time period for refund of the CENVAT claim may also be reduced
to within one month.
The Committee recommends that these issues may be examined and resolved by
CBEC/DGFT.
19
5.4.11. Quick Payment of Drawback
For payment of drawback, scrolls are sent to the authorized bank. After the
receipt of scroll, some banks take up to 15 days to make the payment vouchers
manually. There is no fixed time for taking out the scroll. It was suggested that
the customs department should transfer the drawback amount electronically to
the exporters’ account as every exporter’s bank A/c number is recorded in the
EDI system. The Committee recommends this matter for follow up with
defaulting banks

5.4.12. Refund Of Excise Duties

It was suggested that refund of Excise Duty against physical export under Rule
18 of central excise may be done on lines similar to Draw Back refund. It was
also suggested to dematerialize the duty scrips under chapter 3. The Committee
recommends that the same may be examined by CBEC, for implementation in a
time bound manner.

5.4.13. Refund Of VAT

The Committee noted that there are many cases of VAT refund pending for more
than one month, especially in UP, Haryana and Delhi. The Committee
recommends that there should be a provision of a maximum period of one
month for refund of VAT beyond which interest may be payable to the exporters;
and that the DoC should take up the matter with the respective State
Governments. The Committee also recommended that implementation of GST
should be expedited, to provide a stable policy framework.

5.4.14. Service Tax On Inward Remittances

The Committee noted that Service Tax is levied on conversion to Rupees on
inward remittances of export proceeds. The Committee recommends non-levy of
service tax on such conversion of export proceeds.

5.4.15. Status Holder Incentive Scheme

The MSMEs Exports would benefit if the Status Holder Incentive Scheme could
be extended until 2019, which has been withdrawn from the year 2013-14; and
also for allowing transfer of scrips to third parties. The Committee recommends
DGFT and DoR to reexamine the matter.

5.5 Infrastructure
Good infrastructure facilities ensure the proper delivery and safety of the exported
product alongwith savings in time and cost. The major recommendations of the
Committee on infrastructure facilities for MSMEs are as follows:

5.5.1. 24*7 Facilities

There is a need to allow export consignments under Duty Drawback/FTP
incentive schemes, on a 24*7 basis, so as to ensure faster delivery of export
product. The Committee noted that export of Duty Drawback consignments has
been allowed 24*7 for Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai Air Cargo
20
 Complexes. The Committee recommends this facility to be extended to other
major ports in a specified time bound manner by CBEC.

5.5.2. Port Congestion

The congestion in ports may hamper the export efforts of MSMEs.The Committee
recommends that DGFT/CBEC may look into the matter, and take similar
measures including electronic payments, so that port congestion does not
impede the export efforts of MSMEs.

5.5.3. No Detention of Export Consignments

According to FTP provisions, no export consignment shall be detained at ports.

The Committee recommends that CBEC should issue Circular again (earlier
circular in 2011), so that Export Consignments are not stopped at the port.
Specific instances could be brought to the notice of CBEC for remedial
measures.

5.5.4. Uninterrupted Power Supply

It was suggested that uninterrupted power supply to the export-oriented MSME

clusters/ industrial parks may be ensured, as it would increase working hours
and labour productivity and therefore exportable surplus. The Committee
recommends that the possibility of providing independent feeders for power
supply for such clusters be examined, in consultation with the State Govts., so
that uninterrupted power supply could be ensured.

5.5.5. MSME Clusters Near Highway/Rail Corridors

Locating MSME clusters close to the National Highway or railway corridors was
suggested so as to ensure facilitation for boosting exports. Keeping in view the
increasing difficulties in land acquisition, the Committee recommends that
MSME export clusters may be so identified, and State Governments may be
encouraged to acquire land near Highways and Railways corridors.

5.5.6. Enhancement of ASIDE Scheme

The funds available under the ASIDE scheme for development of export related
infrastructure are quite limited. In view of the significant gaps in infrastructure,
increased funding for ASIDE along with a prioritized list of projects needs to be
ensured.

5.6 Institutional Framework

The institutional framework to support MSMEs is essential for their all-round

development and contribution to the exports of the country. The Committee
recommends the following for strengthening the institutional framework for
MSMEs:

21
5.6.1 Focus On MSMEs

The Committee recommends that an institutional mechanism to hear MSMEs

may be constituted which may include the following:

a. An Inter-ministerial grievance redressal mechanism to address the policy related

issues of exporters related to DGFT and the Central Ministries.
b. The Board of Trade to discuss export strategy, continuously monitor progress of
execution and suggest course correction, with a focus on MSMEs.
c. The Committee received a suggestion for constitution of a Standing Committee
of Secretaries to sort out policies and implementation related issues of exports
by MSMEs. The Committee recommends that the said committee may be
constituted and institutionalized in the Cabinet Secretariat.

5.6.2. Facilitation Support

MSMEs face the problem of unpaid invoicing in exports. It was suggested that a
facilitation council should be set up to take up the matter on their behalf at a
subsidized cost. The Committee recommends that the Indian Embassies
(commercial sections) must also be directed to assist in this regard.

5.6.3. Zonal Coordination and Revival of REIAC

The Committee noted that Transactional issues may result in delay of export
consignments sometimes if there is lack of co-ordination between Customs &
DGFT. The Committee recommends that there is a need to strengthen the
existing mechanism and co-ordination between Customs & DGFT. Zonal DGFTs
and the respective Commissioner of Customs should regularly convene meetings
to resolve issues, particularly of MSME exporters. Regional Export Import
Advisory Committees (REIAC) may help the MSMEs exporters in suggesting
measures relating to customs clearance, shipping, credit insurance and export
inspection. The Committee received representations that these REIAC may be
revived and an institutional arrangement should be made for dialog with MSME
exporters.

5.6.4 Role of Associations

The awareness among MSMEs of the different schemes seems to be limited The
Committee recommends that in order to guide MSMEs, the export Associations
need to be more pro-active and these Associations must regularly update/inform
the MSMEs regarding the export related schemes, procedures and facilities of
the Government.

5.7 Sector Specific Issues

The Committee consulted the industry associations of the specific sectors having
high export potential. The recommendations of the Committee on some important
sectors are as follows:

22
5.7.1 Chemicals

a. One of the main raw materials for pigment industry is urea and potash which is
only sold to farmers at subsidized rates. It was suggested that urea & potash be
given at non-subsidized rates to the actual manufacturer of pigments. The
Committee recommends that DGFT resolve this matter in consultation with
Department of Fertilizers – (imports directly by the industry could be examined).

b. Fatty Alcohols manufacturers have invested huge amounts in Europe to

distribute all grades of Fatty Alcohol. However, Europe has levied anti-dumping
duties on this product, causing an adverse impact of over 7% higher costs. Such
high and unfair duties are affecting the exports of Fatty Alcohols from India.
Committee recommends that mechanism be institutionalized to examine
whether anti dumping duties or other non-tariff barriers are being used by any
particular country, so that the issues could be taken up at a Governmental level
for resolution.

c. Environmental ban has been put up in Chemical industrial areas such as

Ankleshwar, Vatva and Lote Parshuram where expansion of the existing
capacity is not allowed. Moreover, there are stringent product specific norms.An
example was given regarding the Lote Parshuram Industrial Area which applied
under the ASIDE scheme for expansion of the common ETP; however, no action
has been taken. This has resulted in its exports declining from about Rs. 1700
crore to Rs. 600 crore. The Committee recommends:
i. To provide assistance under ASIDE scheme for upgrading CETPs
ii. DOC may expeditiously follow up for approval regarding CETP proposal for
Lote Parshuram, and
iii. D/o Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals proposes to levy a cess of 0.1% on
Chemical Production for creating a corpus fund for TUFS for Chemicals.This
proposal (as also discussed in para 4.3.1) may be expeditiously taken
forward.

d. The Committee received representation that to safeguard manufacturers of Oleo

Chemical Industry, it is essential to correct the inverted duty structure. The
Committee recommends this may be examined by CBEC.Data on value addition
at various stages needs to be provided

5.7.2. Handicrafts

a. In spite of support for handicrafts, exports from this sector are declining.
Development Commissioner (H) needs to examine the problems faced by
handicraft clusters like brassware, wood products, stone work etc. It was
suggested that thrust should be given to the MSME sectors which have natural
advantage, (like Handicrafts). The Committee recommends that traditional crafts
need to be supported for exports and required budgetary support may be
provided.

b. There is need for a vigorous cluster development process to improve the

competitiveness of traditional products.

23
 c. It was suggested that there is a need to enlarge the list of duty free import
provisions of embellishment, trimmings and tools to the handicraft sector.DGFT
may provide a list to CBEC for examination.
d. It was suggested that there is a need for the creation of ICDs for carpet
producing areas as containerized, custom-cleared transportation from the
manufactures’ premises or a centralized location near the manufacturing areas
to the port of shipment is most critical.Existing ICDs are also located outside the
main manufacturing areas e.g. Varanasi ICD.The Committee recommenda that
CBEC may examine the issue.
e. The committee received representation that Automated Scrap Monitoring System
(ASM) may be installed at ICD Moradabad for scanning Radio Active
Contamination (Cobalt 60) in metal handicrafts. Ministry of Shipping is also
likely to install Radiation Portals/Radiation Monitors at major seaports in the
year 2013.For airports, Bureau of Civil Aviation is mandated to install such
Radiation Portals/Radiation Monitors.Committee recommends that scheme be
implemented early.

5.7.3. Leather
a. Increased assistance at 50% on the investment made in plant and machinery
subject to ceiling of Rs. 2 crores under the Integrated Development of Leather
Scheme (IDLS) (as against the current limit of 30% for SSI and 20% for non-SSI
and 20% for all units for assistance above Rs.50 lakhs) was suggested. The
Committee notes that funding is not a problem under the scheme, and
recommends that the scheme guidelines may be made similar to schemes of
M/o MSME / M/o Textiles, in respect of MSME exporters.
b. It was suggested that 100% assistance may be considered under MAI scheme for
organizing visit of leather sourcing delegations. The committee recommends that
MAI support needs to be expanded.
c. It was suggested that Kanpur, Jalandhar & other ICDs be included as
designated ports for importing raw hides & skins, along with posting of
Veterinary inspector to enable these places for AQCS. The Committee
recommends that the matter may be expeditiously resolved by DGFT, CBEC and
Deptt. of AHD&F.
d. Relaxation in import procedure of hides, skins and leathers was suggested for
reduction in transaction cost. The Current position is: i) Raw & Pickled Hides
and Skins can be imported into India against submission of Veterinary
Certificate of the supplying country as per the format notified by DAHD&F and
upon obtaining NOC from AQCS in India. ii) Semi-processed and finished
leathers can be imported into India against submission of Veterinary Certificate
of the supplying country as per their own format and upon obtaining NOC from
AQCS in India. The Committee recommends that DGFT may resolve the matter
in conjunction with DAHD&F.
e. The association requested that frequency of train services should be increased,
between Agra and Mumbai & Kanpur and Mumbai. This needs to be examined
by Min. of Railways & Concor.

24
5.7.4. Textiles

a. Suggestions were received regarding increasing overtime hours allowed and

women to be allowed to work at night with suitable safety measures atleast in
the textile industry.The Committee supports the suggestion.

b. It was suggested to calibrate exports of Cotton Yarn. It was also suggested that
Import duty on cotton yarn be reduced from 12% and that export incentive for
export of cotton yarn be removed. The Committee recommends that there should
be no export incentive for export of either cotton or cotton yarn.

c. It was suggested to incorporate separate entries in the Drawback schedule for

cotton Woven/Knitted with Elastomer (Spandex/Lycra) special finish and
suitably modify value caps. The Committee recommends that the matter may be
resolved by CBEC/DOR.

d. It was suggested that in order to avoid unintended exclusions Fabrics items may
be covered at the four digit HS level and Made ups items at the two digit HS
level. The Committee recommends that the matter may be examined by CBEC.

e. To reduce transportation cost for raw materials, it was suggested to suspend

Cabotage Rules for transporting Cotton from Gujarat & Maharashtra to Tamil
Nadu for a period of six months every year (for say 3 to 5 years) i.e. from Oct to
March, so that foreign vessels can carry coastal cargo, until infrastructure
facilities are streamlined in the country. The Committee recommends that
Ministry of Shipping may examine this matter.

f. It was suggested to issue duty credit scrip on import of specialty fabrics at the
rate of 5%, so as to enlarge garment export by using fabrics which are not widely
available in India. The committee recommends lowering of the import duties on
fabrics not significantly manufactured in India.CBEC may examine the proposal
on receipt of details.

g. It was suggested that Govt. should notify that Textiles Committee’s opinion on
classification regarding garments shall be binding on Customs. The Committee
recommends that CBEC may give due consideration to the opinion of the Textile
Committee while finalizing the classification.

5.7.5. Plastics

a. There is an urgent need to increase the export of value added plastic items and
increase its share in the total plastic exports. A major constraint in achieving
this goal is the low production volume of plastic processing industry. Therefore,
it was suggested that Technology Upgradation Fund is essential for Plastic
Processing Sector. The Committee recommends that this issue may be
considered. D/o Chemicals to examine and formulate TUFS for plastic
processing sector, on similar lines as proposed for Chemicals.

b. Plastic Processing Parks, having facilities for design and prototyping of plastic
items, mould & die design centers, tool rooms etc., was suggested to be set up.
25
 Action on setting up of 4 PCPIRs should be expedited. The Committee
recommends that D/o Chemicals should closely monitor and expedite progress
of the PCPIR projects. For Common Facility/Design Center, scheme of D/o
MSME may also be tapped.

5.7.6 Agricultural & Food Processing Products

a. It was suggested that direct purchases from the farmers should be allowed to
reduce the transaction costs. There is a problem in procurement of raw
material due to restrictive provisions in APMC Acts. Market reforms carried out
by the States vary from State to State. Some degree of uniformity in terms of
the provision in the Model Act is needed for ensuring smooth supply of raw
materials The Committee recommends that State APMC Acts need to be
modified, so as to enable direct purchase by exporters from the farmers, of at
least horticulture/ vegetable items.

b. In Food Processing, Quality Certification is a major issue where costs are very
high. The Committee recommends that the facilities for Quality Certification
may be expeditiously expanded.

c. Most of the processed food products were brought under levy of excise duties
from March, 2011. Thus, processed food products, except fruits, vegetables
and milk products, attract excise duty of 2% without CENVAT facility, and of
6%-12% with CENVAT facility. It also attracts VAT ranging from 4% to 16% at
state level. Further, excise duty of 6-12% is also levied on food processing
equipments. For attracting investment to the sector, exemption from excise
duty was suggested for all processed food products, produced by MSMEs.

d. It was suggested to develop infrastructure including setting up of post-harvest

handling facilities, food testing laboratories, pack houses etc. The Committee
recommends greater investment to boost post-harvest infrastructure facilities,
and recommends that for such schemes Plan funds need to be enhanced.
Agricultural exports have a huge potential. The biggest bottleneck for this
sector is requisite infrastructure, particularly post-harvest. Plan schemes
funds are inadequate, and the Committee recommends that this sector
requires more Plan funds for achieving its full export potential.

5.7.7. Meat & Meat Products

a. The benefit under Vishesh Krishi Gram Udyog Yojana which was withdrawn
from meat & meat products around two years back, be restored.

b. Efforts should be made for establishing equivalence of SPS

measures/standards between India and other importing countries.

c. MOU has been signed with China for export of deboned and deglanded frozen
buffalo meat. Similar agreements need to be pursued with other countries.

26
 d. APEDA should facilitate and give hand holding services to the promoters of
abattoirs. Similarly, Dimapur Abattoir could facilitate access to Yangon for
export of meat products. There is need for convergence and formal
intervention.

The Committee recommends that the issues may be examined by DOC.

5.8. Specific Market Related

There are various problems faced by MSMEs in some specific markets like EU,
USA and other markets. The Committee reviewed such problems brought to its
notice, which related to specific markets, and major recommendations of the
Committee are as follows:

5.8.1. Transit Period For Sight Bills

Under FEDAI Transit Rules for North America and Latin America, it was
suggested that the transit period for sight bills be increased to 60 days from
the present level of 25 days. The Committee recommends that DFS/RBI may
examine the issue. Padmanabhan Committee (RBI) also recommends for
enhancement of the transit period for sight bills for long distance market.

5.8.2 Focus Market Scheme Expansion

Focus Market Scheme helps the exporter to offset high freight cost and other
externalities to make Indian exports competitive internationally in select
countries. The Committee received representation that EU and USA may be
brought under FMS for those engineering products which are exported
predominantly by MSME such as articles of iron and steel; hand tools;
machine tools; auto parts; medical devices etc. The Committee recommends
that focused export incentives for products from MSMEs be examined by
DGFT.

5.8.3 Export Of Agrochemicals

The countries where India has very good export potential like UAE, Syria, and
Lebanon do not allow import of Indian agrochemicals unless they are
registered in USA. The Committee recommends that the matter may be taken
up by DOC bilaterally with the said countries.

5.8.4. Remittances From Third Countries

Timely and proper remittance of payments is an important part of the trade

cycle. The Committee received representation that there are problems in
remittances in dollars from countries like Sudan. The customers are prepared
to remit payments from other countries, but RBI insists on payment from the
bank account of that particular party. Certain export orders have been lost in
the past due to this particular reason. The Committee recommends that this
be examined by RBI for resolution. DGFT/CBEC could ensure that landing
certificates are supplied from destination country like Sudan.
27
 5.8.5. Export Promotion In East Europe

The committee received representation that assistance may be provided for

export promotion under the MDA Scheme for East Europe. The Committee
recommends that DOC may examine the issue.

5.8.6. Review of FTAs

Metal packaging is exported from India to Sri Lanka but they are not covered in
the FTA. It was suggested that there is a need to look into the inclusion of the
tariff item in the Sri Lanka FTA.Similarly duty concessions extended for tractors
when imported from Japan was mentioned to be affecting the interest of local
tractor manufacturer The Committee recommends that this issue should be
examined by DOC

5.9 General Recommendations

In additions to specific problems faced by MSMEs, there are some general

issues faced by MSMEs in India. These issues are not sector specific or site-
specific but are general in nature. The Committee reviewed such issues and
recommendations of the Committee are as follows:-

5.9.1. Redefinition Of MSME

There were representations by most MSME exporters that the MSME

Investment Limit under MSMED Act, 2006, may be revised. The Committee
notes that this issue has been partially addressed in the 2013 Budget
announcement which mentions that non tax benefits of MSME would continue
to be available for 3 years after the units graduating to a higher level,.
However, keeping in view the definitions for MSMEs in other countries, and the
inflation in India in last few years, this Committee feels that the levels of
capital investment for defining MSMEs are too low. The Committee accordingly
recommends enhancement of the capital investment criteria by atleast 50% for
MSMEs.This is essential to ensure price competitiveness through some
economies of scale, as well as to ensure ‘export surplus’.

5.9.2. Incorporation of Employee Number In MSME Definition

Many countries incorporate employee numbers in their definition of

MSMEs.The Committee also received representation to incorporate this aspect
into the definition of MSME.The Committee recommends that like other
countries including Bangladesh, the possibility of incorporating employee
numbers for the purpose of definition of MSMEs, may also be examined.

5.9.3. Promoting MSME Exports in Defence Sector

The threshold for offset policy of Defence for procurement should be reduced to
Rs.75 crore. The tenure of banked offset clause which has been recently
introduced needs to be increased to around 5 years. The Committee
28
 recommends that offset is a powerful tool to support high tech items related to
the defence sector. Offset Policy is not being fully utilized to involve the MSME
pvt. sector for such export of high tech items from India. The Committee
recommends that MoD must re-examine in detail the procedure outlined in the
offset policy, so that it can be leveraged to boost the capability and exports of
high tech. items from MSMEs, particularly in the engineering and electronics
product groups.

5.10 Concluding Remarks

The Committee was conscious of the fact that a number of the

recommendations would increase the budgetary expenditure/reduce tax
revenue and consequently add to the strain on fiscal deficit. However the
Committee felt that the most critical issue facing the Indian economy today is
CAD, and that there is no sustainable medium/long term option for the
country but to boost exports. Accordingly, while recommending taxation/fiscal
incentives, the Committee has suggested that the benefit may be limited to a
period of 5 years. Where increase in budget outlays have been suggested for
some Plan schemes supporting MSME’s exports, the Committee also felt that
there may be a need to curtail consumption expenditure in other schemes, so
as to ensure that India remains on the path of fiscal consolidation.

29
 Annexure I

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF MSMEs: Comparison of Policy Framework

and Institutional Support Systems in Select Countries

BANGLADESH
Financial Incentives

a. The export earnings of the MSMEs are exempted from income tax and tax
rebates between 30% to 100% are given on export earnings. In the budget of
FY2004-2005, a 30 per cent cash incentive scheme was introduced for
exporters of agro-products and agro-processed goods.
b. Full tax relief is granted to 100% export-oriented MSMEs. They are also
exempted from local taxes.
c. SMEs credit disbursement by financial institutions grew rapidly over the
period 2003-2008. The situation accelerated in 2008-09. Total MSMEs loans
increased by Tk.13441.85 crore.
d. The BASIC Bank Limited was established with the primary objective of
financing Small and Cottage industries. The MOA of BASIC stipulates that at
least 50% of its loan able funds should be invested in small scale industries.
Lower interest rates are charged on loans given to finance MSMEs.
e. Considering the importance of MSMEs financing cell has been created in 2003
in the Ministry of Industries. It has been announced by the cell that 80% of the
total resources would be allocated for the development of small enterprises. It
was also decided in the cell that the BASIC and BRAC bank will work together
as lead banks and will be responsible for distribution of short run credit and
venture capital.
f. To overcome the financial constraints of the SME sector and to induce banks
and Financial Institutions to provide credit facilities to SMEs, Bangladesh
Bank introduced a refinancing scheme for SMEs in 2004 using three sources
of funds: Tk.100 million of Bangladesh Bank’s own fund, US $20 million from
IDA under the Enterprise Growth and Bank Modernization Project; and US $30
million from ADB. Up to April, 2012, an amount of Tk. 2,330.14 crore has
been refinanced under the SME refinancing scheme of Bangladesh Bank.
g. The initial target for all banks and financial institutions was Tk240bn
(US$3bn) in SME loans for 2010. This was achieved and the target for
calendar year 2012 is nearly two and half times the same amount at Tk590bn.
h. The government has lowered the import duty on machinery. Businesses
exporting 80% or more of goods and services qualify for duty free import of
machinery and spares. Facility of 90% loans against letters of credit is allowed.
In 2009 it was decided MSMES would get complete VAT exemption on utilities.

Institutional and Policy support

a. National Taskforce on MSME Development was constituted by the Government
to draw up a realistic strategy for promoting competitiveness among MSMEs.
b. Cluster development is seen as a way of addressing the problems faced by the
MSME export sector. In the national MSME policy of Bangladesh, Cluster
development was defined as a priority area.

31
c. Around 64 MSME helpline centers have been set up at the district level and
another 7 in different trade bodies. All MSME entrepreneurs are receiving
required information and training from these centers.
d. Upto March 2012, 9699 plots have been allotted to different industrial units.
In FY 2010-11, goods worth Tk. 29,027 crore were manufactured in these
industrial units, out of which goods worth Tk. 16,659 crore were export
commodities.
e. Industrial policy 2010 and SME policy strategies 2005 provide policy directions
with regard to industrialization particularly in case of MSMEs. The Sixth Five
Year Plan (2011-2015) and Ten Year Perspective Plan (2011-2021) have
sketched the long term targets related to export and import during 2011-2021.

VIETNAM
Financial Incentives

a. There are now special provisions in Vietnam’s Trade and Taxation regimes that
allow export oriented enterprises to import duty free intermediate goods from
abroad and to enjoy preferential tax rates.
b. To resolve financial constraints, Credit Guarantee Fund was set up by the
Government to enable MSMEs to borrow with favorable conditions.
c. In 2002, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular guiding expenditure for
supporting trade and export promotion activities of MSMEs, which grants
enterprises more authority in financing their trade and export promotion costs
and for expanding business activities.
d. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has granted a US$10mn loan to
Vietnam’s Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank to increase US dollar financing
for small exporters. This is the IFC’s second loan in support of small
Vietnamese exporters under its Vietnam small and medium enterprises
(MSME) liquidity Facility programme.

Institutional and Policy support

a. In Vietnam, Agency for MSME Development (ASMED) is the central

government agency which coordinates policy formulation and its
implementation for the MSMEs development.
b. There is a Technical Assistance Center for MSME to provide guidance on
technologies and techniques.
c. In addition, 3 government policies recently have reduced some restrictions on
MSMEs.
i) Firms are allowed to export directly.
ii) Requirements to import through state enterprises, to satisfy stipulated
conditions of capital and qualified personnel needed for being registered as an
importer, have been removed.
iii) Foreign investors are now allowed to own thirty percent of shares in existing
domestic enterprises, permitting private firms to seek foreign partners
d. There is a BDS (Business Development Services) market to support MSMEs.
This aims at improving the effectiveness and transparency of the existing
markets.

32
e. One of the milestones was enforcement of the Law of Enterprises in 2000,
which stipulates supporting measures for MSME development.
f. Aiming at improving MSME competitiveness, the government has been trying
to provide MSMEs and other business sectors with increasing support through
support institutions that offer market information and credit incentives.
g. The two-week regional training program on MSME Cluster Development and
Export Consortia which was organized by the Mekong Institute, in
collaboration with New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAID) was successfully
completed on May 25, 2012.The training offered participants to actively
participate through plenary discussions, course activities, group work and
presentation.

JAPAN
a. In order to support business innovation and new business development arising
from internationalization of SMEs, Government of Japan, through various
institutions, provides strategic information and advisory services (entry into
foreign markets, tie-ups, and trade related information with foreign
enterprises) that help the SMEs in their internationalization efforts.
b. A special ‘Law on Supporting Business Innovation by Small and Medium
Enterprises’ has been enacted which is intended to promote creative
development of SMEs.
c. To support the plans of SMEs to venture into new areas of activity, research
and development, and commercialization, Government of Japan is also taking
proactive steps to provide grant support, low-interest loans, and special tax
concessions for eligible SMEs that conduct business in accordance with a
business plan for research and development which has been approved by the
Prefectural Governor under the Temporary Law concerning Measures for the
Promotion of the Creative Activities of Small and Medium Enterprises.

SOUTH KOREA
a. SME Technology Innovation Program- The programme part provides funds to
SMEs for technology development, and has been designed to receive 30% of the
contribution by the Government as technology fees, over five years, when the
product development task becomes successful. Overall, the objective of the
programme is to create virtuous circle, so that the Government could use the
repayments received, for furthering the technological progress of SMEs or for
establishing the infrastructure.
b. The Government of Korea has also established promotional funds for
technological upgradation, including SMEs, involving academia and research
organizations. The Information Promotion Fund (IPF) supports ICT related
projects and start-ups; the Science and Technology Fund (STF) is aimed at
establishment of technology intensive start-ups; the Korea Small Business
Innovation Research Programme (KOSBIR), encourages public institutes to
devote a considerable share (5%) of their investment in technology
development to SMEs.
c. The SME Credit Guarantee Scheme provides guarantees for bank loans
through the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and Korea Technology Credit

33
 Guarantee Fund. The primary objective behind establishment of such funds
was to provide credit guarantee services to SMEs that lack tangible collateral.
The Korean Credit Guarantee Fund has been designed as an extensive risk
management system to counter potential risks leading towards a higher
default probability.

MALAYSIA
a. In order to increase acceptance of SME products and services, the National
Mark quality certification will be further promoted during the Tenth Plan
period. In order to support innovation, 1-InnoCERT will be introduced to
certify SMEs on the basis of innovation and commercialization achievement.
SMEs that receive 1-InnoCERT certification will receive benefits such as tax
deduction for R&D activities and priority in government procurement.
b. Procurement will be used to create demand for innovation and push SMEs to
develop products in areas that are of benefit to the nation and have larger
commercial potential.
c. SME International, Malaysia, is specially established to assist the Malaysian
SMEs to connect with other SMEs worldwide; providing useful platform for
them to overcome the challenges of globalization and trade liberalization in
their quest in breaking the boundaries.
d. SME Corp. will implement Skills Upgrading Programmes aimed at enhancing
the skills and capabilities of workers of SMEs. Under this programme, SME
Corp. will finance 80% of the training cost paid by employers to train their
employees in accredited training centres.
e. Bank Negara Malaysia has also launched a RM 200 million Micro Enterprise
Fund to increase access to micro financing for micro enterprises with viable
businesses.
f. Government has proposed to strengthen risk capital industry to increase
access to funding for innovative start-ups.

CHINA
a. China has instituted the ‘Spark Programme’, which is a kind of a national plan
encouraging the technology innovation in the ‘villages and towns’ enterprise.
This programme is being in place since 1986, promoting the technology
innovation capacity in ‘villages and towns’ enterprises.
b. The Government has established over 1200 productivity promotion centers,
which provide diverse range of technological services for over 100,000 SMEs
every year.
c. The Chinese Government enacted the SME Promotion Act, in 2002,
emphasizing fair treatment and level playing field for SMEs. The Law ensured
greater access to finance and encouragement to venture capital investments in
SMEs.
d. Recognizing the limited financial opportunities available to SMEs, the Chinese
Government has created a network of credit guarantee agencies. It is reported
that the credit guarantee system includes a framework of ‘onebody, two wings,
four levels’. According to this model, the prefectural credit guarantee
institutions give guarantee in their regions. The provincial credit guarantee

34
 institutions grant reguarantee for those credit guarantee institutions at lower
levels, and supervise them along with People’s Bank of China. They can also
grant guarantee directly. National credit guarantee institutions have been
established as guarantors of last resort and grant re-guarantee to the credit
guarantee institutions at lower levels.
e. SME International Market Development Fund has been established under SME
Promotion Act drawing resources from central and provincial budgets. The
fund partly supports the market development activities of SMEs.

SINGAPORE
a. To improve access to financing for SMEs, the Government has established
various schemes such as the 2005 SME Access Loan, a securitized loan
scheme that had generated loans for around 400 SMEs. Apart from lowering
corporate income tax rate to 18% from Year of Assessment 2008, the Singapore
Government had increased the partial tax exemption threshold for companies
from S$100,000 to S$300,000 while startups can continue to enjoy full tax
exemption on the first S$100,000 of their chargeable income in the first 3
years of operation.
b. The Government will commit S$ 850 million as part of the Enterprise
Development Fund (EDF) over the next five years, to be administered by
SPRING (Governmental agency dedicated to the promotion of Singapore’s
economic growth and productivity) Singapore and International Enterprise (IE)
Singapore.

THAILAND
a. Industrial Technology Assistance Program (iTAP) is an industrial technology
support program for SMEs to help them meet the challenges in introducing
technology based products and processes. iTAP include: Industrial
Consultancy Services, Technical Training and Seminars, Techno-Business
Matching, Technology Acquisition, Provision of Industrial and Technology
Information, Linkage to other Industrial Service Organizations.
b. SME Promotion Plan 2007-2011 contained numerous support measures for
product quality improvement; establishing business incubator centers in
regional and local areas; support for participation in trade fairs; setting up of
exhibition centers for SME products throughout the country; improving
logistics or distribution channels and creation of industrial clustering and
networks.
c. Under the New Entrepreneurs Creation, NEC program, the SME Bank provides
business counseling and training to resolve the challenges associated with
running a business and development of businesses.
d. The Government established the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) to
enable access to capital for smaller companies. The MAI serves as a much
needed avenue to facilitate SME equity financing in Thailand.
e. The Company Directed Technology Development Program (CD) provides
competitive financial support to industrial operators who want to do research
and development in order to develop new products, improve manufacturing
processes, set up a laboratory, conduct reverse engineering, and commercialize
successful research.
35
f. Key SME development programme was the establishment of a Venture Capital
Fund, worth Bt 5 billion, in the year 2003, aimed at creating joint ventures in
SME projects. The Fund was used in conjunction with an existing SME
Venture Capital Fund worth Bt 1 billion, being managed by the One Asset
Management Corporation.

g. Credit Measures

i. Low Interest Loans through the Collaboration of the Government Savings

Bank: Interest rate: 3% loan interest rate for three consecutive years Soft
Loans from the Government Savings Bank
ii. Credit for SME Entrepreneurs Through Collateral Mechanism of Portfolio
Guarantee Scheme of Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG)
Total Loan Guarantee Limit: 100,000 Million Baht
iii. The Bank of Thailand provides assistance to SMEs through commercial banks,
foreign branches of commercial banks, and six public specific financial
institutions; The Export-Import Bank of Thailand, the Bank for Agriculture
and Agricultural Co-operatives, SME Bank, the Government Savings Bank, the
Government Housing Bank, and the Islamic Bank of Thailand.

h. Establishment of Disaster Insurance Promotion Fund coverage and sub limit.

i. Labor Measures:-The preventing and alleviating layoffs project aims at

supporting employers to be able to pay wages to their employees. However,
they have to mutually agree that there will be no layoffs, and wage has to be
paid at at least 75% of the previous wage. The Ministry of Labor will join with
employers in paying the wage of 2,000 baht to each employee for three
months.

PHILLIPINES
a) The most important piece of SME legislation, the Magna Carta for Small
Enterprises, was passed in January 1991. The Magna Carta is aimed to
consolidate all government programs for the promotion and development of
SMEs into a unified institutional framework. The Magna Carta had three
important provisions, namely: (i) creation of the Small and Medium Enterprise
Development (SMED) Council to consolidate incentives available for SMEs; (ii)
creation of the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC) to
address SME financing needs; and (iii) allocation of credit resources to SMEs
by mandating all lending institutions to set aside 8% of their total loan
portfolio to SMEs (6% for small and 2% for medium enterprises).
b) Under the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010),
technological support was provided under The One Town-One Product (OTOP)
Program. This involved the development and promotion of a product or service
where a town has competitive advantage. The OTOP interventions include:
provision of a comprehensive package of assistance to MSMEs and OFWs
(Overseas Filipino Workers) through a convergence of services by LGUs (Local
Government Units), NGAs (National Government Agencies) and private sector
in product/design development, skills and entrepreneurial training, marketing
assistance and introduction of appropriate technologies.
36
c) To triple the loans to SMEs, access to various sources of financing are being
improved through the enhanced SULONG (SME Unified Lending Opportunities
for National Growth) Program. SULONG is a unified lending program by
Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) designed to give SMEs greater access
to short and long term funds.
d) Also, under the 2004-2010 Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, the
legal impediments to the establishment of an SME Credit Bureau were
removed and the establishment of an SME credit rating/ scoring system was
fast-tracked. The implementation and operation of the SME Capital Market
have been strengthened and venture capital financing is being promoted.
e) There are many financing programs introduced by the government such as
Wholesale Microfinance Program, a lending facility of Small Business
Corporation to microfinance institutions (MFIs) which have the organizational
capability to provide sustainable credit access to borrowers in the livelihood
sector; Micro Energy Credit Program, to support reforms and priority
investments to improve the quality of life in rural areas through the provision
of adequate, affordable and reliable energy services, specifically the small-scale
renewable energy solar home system/solar lanterns; Microfinance Program for
NGOs and Cooperatives, to facilitate the access of micro-investment
enterprises and the entrepreneurial poor to formal credit and banking services,
that include training, market assistance, business consultancy, whenever
possible, to hasten their growth and development; Microfinance Eco-
Enterprise Program, to increase participation of the entrepreneurial poor and
micro enterprises in the Sustainable Waste Management Sector, Coco Coir
subsectors and other Eco-enterprises through microfinance.

INDONESIA
Major policies for the empowerment of Cooperatives and SMEs in Indonesia for
the period of 2010-2013 are as follow:

a.Improvement of the business climate for Cooperatives and SMEs

-Structuring the legislation in the field of Cooperatives and SMEs;
-Synchronizing the legislation in national and regional level;
-Developing the policy in Micro Finance Institution (LKM) and Banking
Cooperatives/ Syariah Financial Service Cooperatives( KSP/KJKS);
- Increasing the skill and quality of personnel, particularly in the region;
developing and supporting study activities, such as for One Village One
Product (OVOP) program to increase added value of Developed Superior
Product as the result of Developed International Model in the application of
technology, and the results of study and research In accordance to the need
and business scale of Cooperatives and Micro Small Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs);
- Developing and increasing information quality of Cooperatives and MSMEs,
including the development of network system and information.

b. Improvement of access towards the productive resources

- Strengthening the capitalization for Cooperatives and MSMEs in form of credit
schemes, particularly for People’s Entrepreneurship Credit (KUR), and other
schemes in line with the condition and needs of Cooperatives and MSMEs,
37
 including funding after land certification; giving wider coverage, besides
support and direct funding for the entrepreneurs; banking development effort;
initiating effort to lower the loan interest and other advantages, particularly for
micro and small credits.
- Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has appointed Revolving Fund
Management Institution Cooperatives and MSMEs (LPDB-KUMKM), which
especially give loan and other funding schemes in line with the Cooperatives
and MSMEs.
- Funding for the Cooperatives and MSMEs through Ventura Capitalization
Company; funding for KSP/USP Primary Cooperatives and/or KJKS/UJKS
Primary Cooperatives; funding for MSMEs through KJKS and UJKS Secondary
Cooperatives; and funding for SMEs through KSP and USP Secondary
Cooperatives.

c. Development of product and marketing for Cooperatives and MSMEs

- Increasing the production by the improvement of added value with technology
implementation;
- Strengthening the domestic market and increasing import market. The
Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has ordered Marketing Service Institution –
Cooperatives and Small Medium Enterprises (LPP-KUKM) as independence
business unit, but still the work unit under the Ministry to give promotion
facility for the Cooperative and SMEs products in domestic and international
market. The scope of activities are promoting superior products, providing
market information, and providing human resources to handle marketing
function and training for the products of Cooperatives and SMEs.

d. Improvement of competitiveness of Cooperatives and SMEs

- Encouraging, developing, and helping the education, training, and socialization
activity of Cooperatives;
- Socializing and culturing entrepreneurship, and;
- Establishing and developing Training and Education Institution for giving
education, training, seminar, motivation and business creativity, technical and
live skill, and creating new entrepreneurs.
- Implementing competency standard and certification for human resources who
managing financial service Cooperatives by formulizing and developing
policies;
- Improving technical skill to manage financial and managerial aspects;
- Developing Cooperatives personnel, skills and technical ability (technology
transfer and product innovation/nano-technology), and improving the
implementation of modern management.
- Developing the training and education institution of Cooperatives and MSMEs
by formulizing and developing policies, revitalizing and nurturing the
institution through partnership with local and international higher education
institutions.

e. Strengthen the Cooperatives institution

- Improving the institutional quality of Cooperatives, in this case including the
ranking of Cooperatives by gradually improving the institutional quality
through awakening, empowering, developing, and strengthening efforts;
- Managing the administration and evaluation for Cooperatives legal body;
38
- People’s Awareness Movement for Cooperatives (Gemas-KOP), coordinating and
synchronizing policy implementation in the institution, empowering
Cooperatives and MSMEs, and;
- Revitalizing the institutional function of Cooperatives.

MEXICO
a. The Ministry of Economy and the National Council for Science and Technology
(CONACYT) implemented the following programs to boost technological
capabilities of Mexican firms: 1) the Technological Modernization Program
(Programa de Modernización Tecnológica—PMT); 2) the Science and Technology
Sectoral Fund for Economic Development; 3) the High Value-Added in
Businesses with Knowledge and Entrepreneurs program (Alto Valor Agregado
en Negocios con Conocimiento y Empresarios—AVANCE); 4) Mixed Funds
Program; 5) the Knowledge and Innovation Program (Programa de
Conocimiento e Innovación— PCI); 6) the Support Research and Development
in Projects Program (Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación y
Desarrollo Conjuntos—PAIDEC); and 7) the fiscal incentives program.
b. Technology based Business Accelerator program, TechBA accelerates the
development of SMEs by building strong linkage with the international hub of
high technologies. The Program attracts interests of talented ex-pats and also
home-grown technology based entrepreneurs to establish high technology
SMEs in Mexico because they can enjoy the merit of accessing technologies of
advanced economies even though the SMEs base is within Mexico.
c. A Productive Chains Integration Promotion Fund (FIDECAP) has been
established for financing productive projects, which support the inclusion of
SMEs into the productive chains. The identified activities include: establishing
industrial, commercial and services infrastructure, distribution centers, and
entrepreneurship promotion. A Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Financing Access Support Fund (FOAFI) has been established to promote
financing and guarantee system for SMEs. A Consolidation of Exportable
Goods Support Fund (FACOE) has been established to enhance the
competitiveness of export oriented SMEs.

(Source: EXIM Bank)

39
 Annexure II

Definitions of MSMEs in various countries:

S.No. Country Definition of SME sector

1. India Manufacturing Sector Services Sector
Enterprise Investment in Enterprise Investment in
category: Plant & category: Equipments:
Machinery:
Micro < Rs25 lakh Micro <Rs 10 lakhs
Small Rs 25 lakhs to Small Rs10 lakhs to
Rs 5 crores Rs 2 crores
Medium Rs 5 crores to Medium Rs 2 crores to
Rs 10 crores Rs 5 crores
2. Vietnam SMEs are independent production and business
establishments, duly registered according to the current law
provisions, each with registered capital not exceeding VND
10 billion or annual labour not exceeding 300 people.
3. Indonesia Fewer than 100 employees.

4. Philippines Enterprise Number of Asset Size

category Employees (Phillippine peso)
Micro 1-9 Upto 3,000,000
Small 10-99 3,000,001 –
15,000,000
Medium 100-199 15,000,001 –
100,000,000
Large More than 200 > 100,000,000
5. Thailand Depends on the business sector. Different criteria based on
number of employees and fixed capital size.
6. European Enterprise Headcount Turnover Balance sheet
Union category (in Euros) (in Euros)
Medium-sized < 250 <= 50 million <= 43 million
Small < 50 <= 10 million <= 10 million
Micro < 10 <= 2 million <= 2 million
7. Bangladesh Criteria Fixed Asset excluding No. of Manpower
land and Building employed
(million BDT)
Size Manufac Service Trade Manu- Service Trade
turing facturing
Cottage < 0.5 ≤10 [including family
members]
Micro > 0.5 - ≤ < 0.50 < 0.50 10-24 < 10 < 10
5.0
Small > 5.0- ≤ > 0.50 -> 0.50 - 25- 99 10- 10-
100.00 ≤ 10.0 ≤ 10.00 25 25
Medium >100.00- >10.00- >10.00- 100-250 50- 50-
≤300.00 ≤ 150.00 ≤150.00 100 100

40
 Annexure III
Inter-Ministerial Committee for boosting exports from MSME sector

41
 Annexure IV

42
 Annexure V

43
 Annexure VI
List of participants who attended the Meetings of the Inter-ministerial
Committee for the boosting exports from MSME Sector

SI. NAME/DESIGNATION Ministry/Department/

NO. Organization
1. Shri R.S. Gujral M/o Finance
Finance Secretary, D/o Expenditure
Chairperson
2. Shri. Saurabh Garg M/o Finance
Jt. Secretary (PF-II) D/o Expenditure
3. Shri Piyush Srivastava M/o Finance
Director (PF-II) D/o Expenditure
4. Shri S.R. Rao Department of Commerce
Secretary
5. Shri Rajiv Takru Department of Financial Services
Secretary
6. Smt. Zohra Chatterji Ministry of Textiles
Secretary
7. Shri Siraj Hussain M/o Food Processing Industries
Secretary
8. Shri Sumit Bose Department of Revenue
Secretary
9. Shri Ram Tirath Department of Revenue
DG, DGEP
10. Shri Ajay Jain Department of Revenue
Commerce (CX), CBEC
11. Shri P.K. Mohanty Department of Revenue
Jt. Secretary, TRU-I
12. Shri Madhav Lal M/o MSME
Secretary
13. Shri A.K.Pujari Department of Commerce
DG, DGFT
14. Dr. Raghuram Rajan Department of Economic Affairs
Chief Economic Adviser
15. Smt. Malvika Sinha RBI
CGM
16. Dr. Ajay Kumar Deity
Jt. Secretary
17. Shri Anurag Jain Department of Financial Services
Joint Secretary
18. Smt. Manisha Sinha Ministry of Textiles
Director
19. Shri. A.K.Agrawal DCPC
ADO, Industrial adviser
20. Shri R.P. Singh Department of Revenue
Director (Customs)
21. Shri A.K.Pandey Department of Revenue
STO (DBK)
44
22. Shri Rajesh Kr. Agarwal Department of Revenue
DBK Division
23. Shri Dinesh Kr. Gupta Department of Revenue
Director (DBK)
24. Shri Sunil Tated Department of Revenue
Addl. Director Intelligence
25. Shri P.K. Raut RBI
DGM (Foregin Ex. Deptt.)
26. Shri Siddh Nath Singh CEPC
Chairmen
27. Shri Shiv Kumar Gupta CEPC
Executive Director
28. Shri N.K. Guin, DD CEPC
29. Shri S.S. Gupta, Ministry of Textiles
Dy. Commissiner,
Handicrafts
30. Shri Rakesh Kumar EPC for Handicraft
ED,
31. Shri Arshad Malik EPCH
Vice Chairman
32. Shri Prince Malik EPCH
COA Member
33. Shri Amarendra Sinha MSME
Additional Secretary &
Dev. Commissioner
34. Shri Nipun Jain Pharmexcil
SME Panel Chief
35. Shri Abhay K. Sinha Pharmexcil
Regional Director
36. Shri B.K. Singh Department of Pharmaceuticals
Director (P I-II)
37. Shri Rajiv Talwar Department of Revenue
Joint Secretary
38. Shri P.K. Mishra Department of Economic Affairs
Jt. Secretary
39. Shri Ateesh Singh Department of Financial Services
Director
40. Shri Rajiv Mishra M/o MSME
Director
41. Ms. Reetu Jain Department of Economic Affairs
DS (I&T), DEA
42. Shri. S.C. Ralhan FIEO
Chairman (N.R.)
43. Shri. Ashok Jain FIEO
Member Committee
44. Shri T.S. Ahluwalia FIEO
Member Committee
45. Shri. Navratan Samdriya FIEO
Member Committe
45
46. Shri. H.C. Pant FIEO
Jt. Director
47. Shri Ashish Jain FIEO
Jt. Director
48. Shri D.K. Singh Department of Commerce
Addl. DG:FT
49. Shri R.P. Jhalani EEPC
Former Chairman
50. Shri Rana Roy EEPC
Addl. ED
51. Shri Ajit Lakra Apex Chamber of Commerce
E.M.
52. Shri Rajnish Ahuja Apex Chamber of Commerce
Secretary P.R.
53 Shri P.D. Sharma Apex Chamber of Commerce
54. Dr. T.k. Chakravarthy DCPC
Consultant
55. Shri Arun Agarwal DCPC
Director
56. Shri Jasbir Singh DCPC
Consultant
57. Shri Rajeev Chitalia PLEXCONCIL
Chairman
58. Shri S.R. Dewan PLEXCONCIL
Regional Director
59. Shri Satish Wagh CHEMEXCIL
Chairman
60. Dr. J.P. Tiwari CHEMEXCIL
Regional Director
61. Shri Anup K. Thakur Agriculture & Cooperation
62. Shri. A.S. Rawat APEDA
63. Shri K.C. Rout DGFT
64. Shri G. Bhujabal MoFPI
Economic Adviser
65. Ms. Vandana Khare R.B.I.
G.M. (Foreign Ex. Deptt.)
66. Shri R.K. Boyal APEDA
General Manager
67. Shri Vinod K.Kaul APEDA
68. Shri K.K.M Kutty C.I.I.
69. Shri Jayesh, Director C.I.I.
70. Smt. Anjula Singh C.I.I.
Solanky
71. Shri Sanjay Bhatia FICCI
Chairman, MSME
Committee M.D, Hindustan Tin
Works Ltd.
72. Shri Hemant Seth FICCI
Addl. Director
46
73. Shri. Atul Chaturvedi Department of Industrial Policy and
Joint Secretary Promotion
74. Shri Sanjay Kumar Council for Leather Export
Regional Director
75. Shri Anil Bhardwaj FISME
Secretary General
76. Shri N Shankar ECGC
Chairman
77. Shri T.C.A. Ranganathan Ex-Im Bank of India
Chaiman
78. Shri Deep Kapuria C.I.I
Chairman, MSME
79. Shri Arvind Kapoor MSME Committee
Member
80. Shri Mahesh Desai MSME (C.I.I)
Chairman
81. Shri Sujith Haridas C.I.I.
DDG
82. Ms. Sheila Sangwan CBEC, Department of Revenue
Member: Budget

47
 Annexure - VII

Issues raised by FIEO in the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary

at Udyog Bhawan on 15.3.2013

1. Enhancement in MDA/MDA allocation or creation of an Export

Development Fund: The biggest challenge affecting MSME exports is on the
marketing front as most of MSME lack financial resources to meet the cost.
Government needs to chip in with liberal funding. The total marketing support
extended by DOC under MAI and MDA is insufficient to meet the demand of
MSME for export marketing. The budget for MDA is about Rs.50 crores. The
policy of MDA talks about supporting a maximum of five visits by an exporter
with a total support of Rs.7.10 lac (4 to different focus areas and 1 to rest of the
world). Theoretically, it means the Scheme can cover only 750 exporters.
Assuming the exporters are not availing fully and only take 3 visit with a support
of Rs.5 lacs a year, it at best can cover 1000 exporters as against over 25000
active MSME exporters which would mean that the coverage of the Scheme is
only 4% of total MSME exporters.
Secondly, the support under the Scheme ranges between Rs. 80000-180000.
Australia has EMDG Scheme which reimburses 50% of the expenditure with a
minimum of 10000 Australian Dollar. Hong Kong has SME Export Marketing
Fund which provides reimbursement of 50% of the expenditure or HK Dollar
50000 whichever is less. Therefore, there is urgent need to increase the limits
imposed under MDA Scheme.
Moreover, the fund allocated under MAI or MDA Scheme should be increased 50
times or if the same is not possible, we should create an Export Development
Fund so as to support them on this front. The corpus of the fund should be 0.5%
to 1% of export value so that sizable money is available to promote MSME
exports.
2. Availability of Dollar denominated credit: The cost of credit has gone up
substantially in India and even after factoring 2% Interest Subvention, the cost of
Rupee credit is over 10% for MSME exporters. Most of the banks are not
providing subvention of 1% as MSME besides 2% export subvention. The dollar
denominated credit is available at LIBOR + 50 basis points and can be extended
at around 3% to exporters. However, most of the Indian banks are not having
adequate funds with them. RBI should help the banks to get necessary dollars
for providing dollar denominated credit. Unfortunately, even after deregulating
the PCFC, the availability to MSME is still a big concern as most of the banks
consider corporate as a safe bet.
Alternative, RBI may allocate US$ 50 billion from the Reserves to Banks to
provide PCFC to MSME exporters. If this happens, Indian SMEs will shed
uncompetitive position vis-a-vis their competitors.
3. Support to E-Commerce: E-Commerce has emerged as an important tool for
micro & small exporters. Such portals provide a marketing support to MSME and
the linked payment gateway ensures payment without any risk to exporters. The
private e-com websites like E-bay, etc. charge around 13-15% as their
transaction fee. We should encourage MSME exporters to develop their own
professional website for promoting their products and get it linked with service
provider for payments. The cost of development of the website and the one-time

48
 cost for payment linkage may be reimbursed to MSME exporters. The present e-
commerce exports are about US$ 1 billion but could grow by over 100% on year
on year basis.
4. Waiver of additional export obligation under EPCG for MSME exporters:
Technology is an important factor as they are not expanding or upgrading
technology. The sum total of the duty on imports comes to around 25% but they
have the option to import at Zero or concessional duty under EPCG Schemes.
However, the average export obligation acts as a deterrent to most of MSME.
Therefore, the average export obligation under EPCG Schemes should be waived
for MSME exporters which will help in replacing the old technology and adopting
new and upgraded technology for better production.
5. Capacity Building for Exports: The new entrepreneurs are not entering in the
field of exports due to lack of knowledge and complexities of International trade.
This is the reason that the share of SMEs exports in India has stagnated at
around 35%. Capacity building programmes for exports in export centric
industrial clusters will help in attracting new entrepreneurs in the field of
exports. Government should provide liberal funding for export based capacity
building so as to equip and attract new entrepreneurs in the field of exports.
FIEO would like to enter into MOU with Department of Commerce or DC (MSME)
for a pan India capacity building programme to take MSME exports to 50% of
country’s exports by 2020.
6. Providing design supports: One of the critical area affecting MSME exports is
lack of exposure in designs. Many of the countries have procured services of
International designers to give a new approach to their exports. WE should
identify 10-15 international designers and bring them to India for 3-6 months to
provide necessary exposure to Indian MSMEs. This will also help them in product
development to meet the international requirement as the designers have fairly
good knowledge of technical standards as well.
7. Double Weightage for MSMEs along with other weightages: MSMEs were
given double weightage for grant of recognition as Status Holder in addition to
other weightages. However, with a policy change effected about two years back,
they are now only entitled for one of the weightage. This has created problem for
MSME. MSME should be given double weightage in addition to other weightage
available for grant of recognition as Status Holder.
8. Reduction in premium and extension in coverage besides data on new
buyers: ECGC should provide concessional premium to MSME by charging 50%
of the normal premium and extend the coverage to 95% from 90% at present.
Moreover, the time taken in issuance of coverage should be compressed by
ECGC. ECGC is not having data on buyers of the new market which is affecting
grant of insurance cover to such markets which are covered under Focus Market
Scheme or Market Linked Focus Product Scheme.
9. MSMEs to focus on China: The rising cost in China and decline in working
population has compelled China to move from labour intensive sectors. This will
provide massive opportunity to India provided we aggressively market in China.
MSMEs can take part in Canton and Kunming Fairs to market their products
and took at opportunities emerging in China. Ministry of MSME should look into
these exhibitions to encourage MSMEs to participate in the same.

49
 Annexure VIII
Suggestions received from Various Organizations and Recommendations
of the Committee thereon
1. EEPC INDIA
S.No. Issues Recommendations
1 Revision of MSME Investment Significantly addressed in Budget
Limit under MSMED Act, 2006, announcement that non tax
since larger capital investment benefits of MSME would continue
helps in technological to be available for 3 years after
upgradation of MSMEs. graduating to a higher level.
2 Technology Upgradation Scheme An EFC note is reported to be
for the Engineering Sector. under preparation in M/o MSME.
Technology Fund Upgradation Expansion of CLCSS (which is a
Scheme should also be successful scheme) needs to be
formulated. supported.
Revise the limits for Credit Link
Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS).
(20% capital subsidy and loan
upto Rs. 5 crore)
Export Credit Related Issues:
1 Interest Subvention on Rupee Expeditious Credit of Interest
Export Credit should be paid Subvention is essential for
expeditiously up front. Exporters. SBI perhaps does so.
Other banks perhaps do so only
after receiving the amount from
RBI/Govt.
It is recommended to examine the
reasons for delay; so as to ensure
that interest subvention is
provided to all the exporters on a
timely basis.
2 Lower Interest Rate on Export Recommended to consider
Credit in Foreign Currency whether the spread can be
(Currently charges as high as reduced to Libor + 3%.
Libor + 4%) (Earlier it was LIBOR + 2.5%).
Padmanabhan Committee
(Reserve Bank of India) also
recommends that in respect of
export finance for which refinance
is being provided by RBI, banks
may not charge spread beyond a
specific cap.
3 Provide Rupee Export Credit to It is necessary to reduce the cost
Exporters at the Repo Rate. of Export Credit, to around 7%.
Perhaps, need to give extra
interest subvention of another 2%
for MSME exporters who make
timely payment. Padmanabhan

50
 Committee (Reserve Bank of
India) also recommends framing
of suitable interest subvention
policy for long term export credit.
4 Export Credit Limit to MSME This needs to be institutionalized,
Units should be increased by particularly when rupee is
10% Automatically. depreciating.

5 Allow extension of Forward Details of the issue are required

Contracts. to be submitted by EEPC.

6 FEDAI Transit Rules for North DFS/RBI to examine.

America and Latin America to
increase the transit period for
sight bills to 60 days ( from the
present level of 25 days)
7 Some other credit related
suggestions:
a) Enhancement of limit of export a) Not relevant for exports.
proposal from USD 100 million to
USD 200 million for approval by
Working Group of RBI.
b) Increase in the buyer’s credit
limit under automatic route from b) This may be examined by RBI.
USD 20 million to USD 50
million.
c) Permission to Exporter for
remitting only Trading branch c) It may be not be relevant.
office abroad.
d) Net savings from Bid Bond
Guarantees; where ECGC cover d) To check whether ECGC cover
of 90% is available, banks should is available against Bid bond
not insist on cash margin for amount? If not, then no change is
issuing Bid bond. required.
8 Review of FTA’s keeping the Not relevant for Exports.
interest of MSME’s in view.
9 EU and USA be brought under Issues of Export Incentives to be
FMS for those engineering seen only by DOC.
products which are exported
predominantly by MSME such as
articles of iron and steel; hand
tools; machine tools; auto parts;
medical devices etc.
10 Instead of having duty scripts Issues of Export Incentives to be
under Chapter 3 export benefits, seen only by DOC.
it is suggested that either these
be dematerialized or duty credit
be directly paid like the drawback
system.

51
2. APEX Chamber of Commerce & Industry
S. No. Issues Recommendations
1. Excise rebate should be granted This is to be examined
within 30 days instead of 90 days. by CBEC.
2. Eligibility for subsidy under CLCSS Needs to be considered
(of MSME) be increased to Rs.5 crore by D/o of MSME (in
instead of Rs.1 crore. their proposed EFC for
modification of CLCSS)
3. Need to reduce transaction costs for Matter to be examined
MSME exporters (presently stated to by separate Committee
be around 10%) headed by DGFT.

3. FEDERATION OF INDIAN MICRO AND SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

(FISME)
S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 Rebuilding Institutional framework - An institutional mechanism
for exports promotion to hear MSMEs be constituted.
a) Niryat Bandhu – Inter-ministerial - Budget for MDA/MAI needs
grievance redressal mechanism: enhancement.
Need to set up an institutional (Action: DoC/DGFT/ D MSME)
mechanism to address the issues
of exporters related to DGFT and
Central Ministries.
b) Rejuvenating Board of Trade to
discuss export strategy,
continuously monitor progress of
execution and suggest course
correction.
c) Need to make Export Promotion
inclusive with greater support from
MDA/MAI for MSMEs.
2 a) Mega MSME Export Support 50% of India’s exports are to
Programme Asia; therefore MDA/MAI may
b) Developing SME Marketing arms: focus more towards Asia.
i) Establishing Export Development (Action: DoC)
Companies (EDCs) Greater pro-active support
ii) Trading houses for SMEs required from commercial
c) India outbound scheme sections of Indian embassies in
i) Assistance to develop forward such countries.
linkages for associations (Action: DoC/MEA) Differential
ii) Support for making forward rates for exports could be
linkages for MSMEs considered – freight rates need
iii) Challenge fund for Studies/ to be reasonable in any case.
short term interventions (Action: MoR/CONCOR).
d) Inland Freight subvention: Padmanabhan Committee
CONCOR is a natural monopoly, (Reserve Bank of India) also
the pricing mechanism needs to be recommends differential tax
done through an independent regime for exporters.
regulator.

52
3 a) Replacement of Duty Entitlement List of items without a Duty
Pass Book (DEPB). Drawback Rate may be
b) Duty Credit Advance License provided, so that CBEC may
Scheme. It allows flexibility on this take further action.
count: i) The exporter can herself (Action: CBEC/DGFT)
import one or all the inputs used in
exported product and use the
corresponding duty credit obtained
through the scheme.

4. Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO)

S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 a) It is requested that the rebate This needs to be resolved by DG
claims may be filed electronically Systems CBEC.
b) The hard copies of documents
such as shipping bills, ARE – I
duly signed by custom etc. may
be submitted manually.
c) If possible the Cenvat rebate
claims may be paid
electronically.
d) If possible the time period for
refund the Cenvat claim may
also be reduced to within one
month.
2 For payment of drawback, For follow up with defaulting
scrolls are sent to authorized banks (like PNB)
bank. After the receipt of scroll,
the banks take up to 15 days to
make the payment vouchers
manually. There is no fix time
for taking out the scroll.
It is suggested that the custom
department should transfer the
drawback amount electronically
to the exporters’ account as
every exporters bank a/c no. is
in the EDI system.
3 Additional interest subvention of To reduce cost of credit for MSME
200 bps over and above the exporters, additional interest
present rates applicable to subvention of 2% may be allowed
MSMEs. to MSME exporters who repay on
a timely basis during the year.
4 Technology Upgradation Fund Credit Linked Capital Subsidy
Scheme. limit is upto 1 crore. It may be
allowed to be increased to 5 crore.
Subsidy may also be treated as
Margin money.

53
5 Exports under priority sector It may be accepted for MSME
lending. exports. Padmanabhan Committee
(Reserve Bank of India) also
recommends inclusion of export
credit under Priority Sector
Lending.
6 a) Swap facility scheme is a) Recommended for consideration
available till June 28, 2013. It by RBI
should be extended for at least 3
years with annual rollover.
b) RBI should provide 100%
refinance under the scheme.
c) The fund for swap may be
increased from USD 6.5 billion
to USD 25 billion to ensure
adequate availability.
d) 50% of the total fund should
be earmarked for MSME units.
7 Deeper Interest Subvention for To reduce cost of credit for MSME
MSMEs, despite 2% interest exporters, additional interest
subvention, cost of rupee credit subvention of 2% may be allowed
is 11-12% for MSMEs exporters. to MSME exporters who repay on
4% interest subvention required. a timely basis during the year.
Padmanabhan Committee
(Reserve Bank of India) also
recommends framing of suitable
interest subvention policy for long
term export credit.
8 Creation of an Export There is a need to increase the
Development Fund. The budget funds available for marketing; and
for MDA of DoC is about Rs. 50 accordingly increase budgetary
crores. The policy of MDA talks provisions for MDA/MAI (from
about supporting a maximum of present level of Rs.50
five visits by an exporter with a crore/Rs.180 crore to Rs.150
total support of Rs. 7.10 lakh (4 crore/Rs.500 crore respectively)
to different focus areas and 1 to
rest of the world).
9 Support to E–Commerce. All product EPCs to set up e-
E-Commerce portals provide a enabled sites.
marketing support to MSME and DGFT may set up a website (as a
the linked payment gateway new scheme).
ensures payment without any
risk to exporters.
10 Waiver of additional export Not recommended.
obligation under EPCG for
MSME exporters.

54
11 Double Weightage for MSMEs DGFT to consider.
along with other weightages for
grant of recognition as Status
Holders.
12 Capacity Building for Exports.
13 Providing design support and It may be considered and FIEO
exposure to MSMEs for better can be made Implementing
product development. Agency.
Existing scheme of MSME be
modified to provide both hard
intervention
(infrastructure/common facility
centre) and soft support
(training/DPR preparation).

5. BASIC CHEMICALS, PHARMACEUTICALS & COSMETICS EXPORT

PROMOTION COUNCIL (CHEMEXCIL)
S.No. Issues Recommendation
1 The Environmental ban has been It may be recommended to
put up in Chemical industrial areas seek assistance under ASIDE
such as Ankleshwar, Vatva and Lote for upgrading CETPs.DOC may
Parshuram where expansion of the follow up regarding CETP
existing capacity is not possible. proposal for Lote Parshuram.
Moreover, there are stringent D/o Chemicals &
product specific norms. Pharmaceuticals proposes to
Lote Parshuram Industrial Area levy a cess of 0.1% on
applied under ASIDE for expansion Chemical Production for
of common ETP; however, no action creating a corpus fund for
has been taken. This has resulted in TUFS.
its exports declining from Rs. 1700
crore to Rs. 600 crore.
2 One of the main raw materials for This issue is to be resolved by
pigment industry is urea and potash DGFT in consultation with
which is only sold to farmers at Department of Fertilizers-
subsidized rates. (imports directly by the
industry could be examined).
3 In order to safeguard manufacturers This is to be examined by
of Oleo Chemical Industry, it is CBEC.
essential to correct inverted duty
structure phenomenon.
4 In order to safeguard the This is not recommended.
manufacturing under Export
Oriented Units (EOUs) who are
importing raw materials to
manufacture value added products
in India for its export, we have made
a provision Excise Notification
No.23/2003 dt. 31-03-2003 that,
50% of Basic Custom Duty (BCD).
55
 Calculation should be based on
either merit rate of duty, or duty
under any exemption Notification, or
any exemption Notification related to
FTA, whichever is lower.
5 Fatty Alcohols manufacturers have Export Incentives on
invested huge amounts in Europe to individual products to be
distribute all grades of Fatty Alcohol. examined/decided only by
However, Europe has levied anti- DOC.
dumping duty on this product,
having there an adverse impact of
over 7% negative. Such high unfair
adversity is affecting the exports of
Fatty Alcohols from India. Additional
Incentive under MLFPS of 5% be
provided.
6 Domestic Chlor Alkali Sector needs No recommendation.
to be revived. Transport subsidy be
provided.
7 The countries where we have very Matter needs to be taken by
good export potential like UAE, DOC bilaterally with the
Syria, Lebanon do not allow import countries.
of Indian agrochemicals unless they
are registered in USA.
8 Iran is very promising market for
India.
9 Revision in MDA Scheme. This is to be examined by DOC
and it is recommended to
increase the MDA funding.
10 Revision in MAI Scheme. It is recommended to increase
the MAI funding, while MOC
may examine the suggestions
for specific modifications.

6. TEXPROCIL
S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 Extend 2% interest subvention to MSMEs are already covered under
the entire cotton textile sector. 2% Interest subvention.
2 Incorporate separate entries in Needs to be ensured by
the Drawback schedule for CBEC/DOR.
Technical Textiles (Woven/
Knitted) with Elastomer
(Spandex/Lycra) special finish
and suitably modify value caps.
3 In order to avoid unintended May be examined by CBEC.
exclusions cover Fabrics items at
the four digit HS level and Made
ups items at the two digit HS
level.

56
4 The TUFs Scheme should be Ministry of Textiles should
finalized and announced quickly. expeditiously finalize the matter.
The Blackout period (June 2010 –
April 2011) should also be
covered.
5 Suspend Cabotage Rules for Ministry of Shipping may examine.
transporting Cotton from Gujarat
& Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu for
a period of six months i.e. from
Oct 2013 to March 2014 so that
foreign vessels can carry coastal
cargo until infrastructure
facilities are streamlined in the
country.

7. FICCI
S.No. Suggestion Recommendation
1 Custom duty on Raw Materials FICCI to give list of items with no
used in a product should be dual use –with inverted duty
lower than the duty charged on structure.
the finished products being CBEC would examine the matter
imported having similar Raw thereafter.
Materials used on it. e.g. Felt
used on lawn tennis balls and
finished tennis balls.
2 Process cum Product List of Product Clusters where
Development Centre should be Process cum Product
established in every cluster with Development Centre is required
technical staff for testing the will be given by FICCI. Matter to
products and to assist in be examined for approval
development of the products. thereafter by MSME/DOC.
3 To encourage R&D activities Not related to exports.
amongst MSMEs, provision to
incentivize MSMEs (by way of
tax reduction or subsidy), for
amounts incurred abroad also.
4 Cumbersome Procedure for Not related to exports.
Registering with DST for R&D
eligibility.
5 Need to create virtual market May be examined for
information cell on latest implementation by industry
development on consumer councils, along with institutions
preferences, standards, like IIFT.
regulations, etc. where MSMEs
can be made aware.
6 Buyer Seller meets should be Marketing support to be
planned considering difference enhanced for MSME; through
in SME definition across the higher budgetary allocation for
globe. MDA/MAI.

57
7 List of dead patents to be -Indian Patent Office may do so,
provided to SMEs to enhance for local patents.
innovation at low cost. - FICCI may inform of problems
in access from foreign patent
office, if any.
- Possible to use commercial
offices in Indian Embassies.
8 Thrust should be given to the Traditional crafts need to be
MSME sectors which have supported for exports. DOC to
natural advantage, (like examine.
Handicrafts)
9 Technology Upgradation Fund CLSS of MSME is presently only
should be created for MSMEs. for machinery and subsidy is
only 15%. This requires enhance-
ment, as also inclusion of
support for infrastructure and
CETP’s. Procedural issues need
streamlining.
10 MSMEs face the problem of The Indian Embassies(commercial
unpaid invoicing in import and sections) could assist in this
export. It is suggested that a regard.
facilitation council should be set
up to take up the matter on their
behalf at a subsidized cost.
11 Reduction of Drawback from 3% For CBEC.
to 2.4% is not justified. The
same rate of 3% should be
restored.
12 Refund of Excise Duty against This may be examined by CBEC.
physical export under Rule 18 of
central excise should be done on
line similar to draw back refund.
13 Similar facility of refund of Not relevant for physical exports.
Excise Duty should be extended
in case of deemed export.
14 Refund of TED should be This may be considered by
restored. DGFT.
15 Accumulation of CENVAT Credit Refund is allowed on a
should be allowed for buying raw proportional basis for physical
material or refund of accumu- exports.
lated cenvat credit should be
made for deemed exports.
16 In case of domestic supplier who Procedural issue – to be
is having invalidation of advance examined by DGFT.
authorization cannot get the
benefit of supplies made before
applying for advance
authorization. The anomaly
should be removed.
58
17 At present Advance Not recommended.
Authorization is not allowed to
be transferred as per restriction
imposed by FTP policy.
Restriction should be removed
and the same should be allowed
to transfer.
18 Earlier condition of positive Not recommended.
value addition against 15% (wef
16.02.10) should be restored in
case of Advanced Authorization.

19 Need to strengthen co-ordination DGFT/CBEC to examine and

between custom & DGFT as we resolve.
have few instances where we
have faced issue like that DGFT
uploads advance license but it
does not appear on the custom
system which results into delay
of export consignment.

20 Remittances in dollar from To check this issue with RBI.

countries like Sudan, where DGFT/CBEC may agree if
there are restrictions from US lending certificates will be
Government to trade in dollar. supplied from destination
The customers are prepared to country.
remit payments from other
countries but RBI insists on
payment from the bank account
of that particular party. We have
lost certain export orders in the
past due to this particular
reason.

21 Metal packaging is exported DOC to examine.

from India to Sri Lanka but they
are not covered in the FTA. We
need to look into the inclusion of
tariff item on which duty rebates
are given to the importer in Sri
Lanka.

It is recommended that FICCI may give details for the issues related to financing,
credit and marketing.

59
8. COUNCIL FOR LEATHER EXPORTS
S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 Capacity Modernization and It is seen that there has been no
Technological Upgradation – problem of funding under DIPP
Request to notify schemes under Scheme. Hence, no change is
Indian Leather Development proposed.
Programme (ILDP) for XII Plan. The scheme guidelines may be
Increased assistance at 50% on similar to schemes of M/o
the investment made in plant MSME/ M/o Textiles.
and machinery subject to ceiling (Action: DIPP)
of Rs.2 crore under Integrated
Development of Leather Sector
(IDLS) (as against the current
limit of 30% for SSI and 20% for
non-SSI and 20% for all units for
assistance above Rs.50 lakh)
2 Special Package for USA market: Marketing support may be
a) 100% grant under Market considered under MAI, for the
Access Initiative Scheme (MAIS) suggested areas including design
for design support. support and buyer sellers meet.
b) Provision of 6% duty credit (Action: DoC)
scrip for exports to USA under
Focus Product Scheme (as
against 4% now) for notified
leather products and footwear.
c) Special Package of 100% grant
under MAIS for buyer seller meet.
3 Request to extend 2% interest It may not be considered for large
subvention scheme on rupee sector as the focus is on exports
export credit to entire leather by MSMEs.
sector during 2013-14
4 Enhancement of duty free limit This would have a trade-off with
under Duty Free Import Scheme the Duty Draw Back Rate. Hence,
(DFIS) from 3% to 5% not advisable.

5 Request for creation of Brand IBEF needs to be more proactive

Promotion Fund for developing ‘Brand India’.
Government support for
individual private brand
promotion may primafacie not be
feasible.
(Action: DoC)
6 It is requested that 100% MAI support to be expanded.
assistance may be considered (Action: DoC)
under MAIS for organizing visit of
leather sourcing delegations
7 Skill Development: CLE should compile details of all
There is a need to dovetail the Skill Development Schemes/
various HRD schemes of DIPP, Programmes of GOI and help the
60
 Ministry of HRD, Ministry of MSME exporters.
MSME and also State (Action: CLE)
Governments into the action plan
of Leather SSC so that the
maximum utilization of the funds
could be ensured.
8 Measures to reduce transaction
costs:
1) Banks may be advised to 1) Could be included under
reduce the interest rates at least Priority Sector Lending. (Action:
by 4-5% (as the present rates are RBI/DFS)
very high in the range of 14-16%)
2) Payment of automatic interest
for delay in DBK disbursements
beyond a period of one month
from the date of shipment
3) Relaxation in import procedure
of hides, skins and leathers.
Current position is:
a) Raw & Pickled Hides and Skins a) DGFT to resolve in conjunction
can be imported into India with DAHD & F. (Action: DAD &
against submission of Veterinary F/DGFT)
Certificate of the supplying
country as per the format notified
by DAHD & F and upon
obtaining NOC from AQCS in
India.
b) Semi-processed and finished b) Kanpur could also have AQCS.
leathers can be imported into (Action: DAD & F)
India against submission of
Veterinary Certificate of the
supplying country as per their
own format and upon obtaining
NOC from AQCS in India.
4) High Freight charges of 4) Differential rates for export
CONCOR. There is a need to could be considered, along with,
increase the frequency of train higher frequency between Agra
services. and Mumbai & Kanpur and
Mumbai & between Agra ICD,
Kanpur ICD and Mumbai.
(Action: MoR/CONCOR).
Padmanabhan Committee
(Reserve Bank of India) also
recommends differential tax
regime for the exporters.
5) There should be provision of a 5) Delays in VAT refund especially
maximum period of one month in UP, Haryana and Delhi. D/o
for refund of VAT beyond which Commerce to take up with
interest may be payable to the respective State Governments.
exporters. (Action: DoC).
61
Requests concerning relaxation in import procedure
1 Kanpur, Jalandhar & other ICDs It may be considered by
to be included as designated DGFT/CBEC.
ports for importing raw hides & (Action: DFT/CBEC/DAHD & F)
skins, alongwith posting of
Veterinary inspector.

9. Apparel Export Promotion Council

S.No. Proposal Recommendation
1 Issuance of duty credit scrip on It may be recommended to lower
import of specialty fabrics at the the duties on fabrics not
rate of 5% so as to enlarge significantly manufactured in
garment export by using fabrics India; and AEPC to provide list.
which are not widely available in
India.
2 Allocation of funds for setting up The value addition in knitted
innovative research/resource export is noted to be high. Centres
centre. at Tirupur, Kolkata and Ludhiana
are being suggested. The need for
a design studio/resource centre is
recognised. In view of
Training/Skill Development being
a significant component of the
Resource Centers, the Centers
could be considered part of ISDS.
3 Policy intervention for It is recommended to take up this
overcoming major non- issue with MoLE, especially
compliance in garment factories regarding the restriction of the
through two amendments in the overtime cap of 50 hours a
Factories Act, 1948. quarter.
a) Overtime wages at the rate of Central Act provides for 50 to 150
one and one quarter times of the hours overtime. Karnataka has
regular rate (Section 59) sent Amendment to MoLE. Higher
b)The cap of 50 hours a quarter working hours greater than 8
should be removed (Section 64) hours to be allowed (with 5
working days). Karnataka has
perhaps also recommended to
tweak Minimum Wage – with lower
prescribed for Backward Areas.
MoLE to examine.
4 Allocation of funds directly to It is recommended to DOC to look
AEPC under Market Access into the matter in order to enable
Initiative (MAI) Scheme. AEPC to do 14 shows annually
each with about 150 exporters.
Budgetary allocation for MAI will
need to be enhanced.
5 Diesel for using in the Gen sets It may not be relevant as diesel
should be provided at prices get aligned with
international prices. international prices.

62
6 Calibrated exports of Cotton Ministry of Textiles to examine.
Yarn. (Remove Export Incentive
on export of Cotton Yarn).
Import duty on cotton yarn to be
reduced from 12%.
7 24*7 clearances of drawback This has been done for 10 ports,
shipping bills. but only for white shipping bills.
Problems in Pipavav and Tuticorin
persist. The
facility be extended to non-white
shipping bills. Export of Duty
Drawback consignments has now
also been allowed 24*7 for
Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and
Mumbai Air Cargo Complexes on
16.5.13. This needs to be
extended to other major ports also
in a time bound manner by CBEC.

8 Separate chapter for getting Exports by MSMEs must be

export credit at fixed 7.5% treated as Priority Sector Lending.
interest. With current 2% Interest
subvention, the export credit for
MSMEs is still around 9.5-10%.
There is a need to lower the
interest rate for MSME exporters.
Perhaps 2% additional interest
subvention may be provided to
MSME exporters who repay on a
timely basis. Padmanabhan
Committee (Reserve Bank of India)
also recommends inclusion of
export credit under priority sector
lending and framing of suitable
interest subvention policy for long
term export credit.
9 It is requested to reduce the Not related to exports.
threshold limit to Rs.10 crore for
investment allowance.
10 Service tax related issues – It would need examination by
Details to be given separately by DOR.
AEPC.
11 DOR to issue clear cut directions CBEC to issue Circular again
that no export consignment shall (earlier circular in 2011) so that
be stopped at ports, in line with Export Consignment should not
FTP, else the ship is missed. be stopped at the port.

63
12 Govt. to notify that Textiles DGFT to examine all such cases.
Committee’s opinion on
clarification of garments shall be
binding on Customs.
13 Congestion in ports and DGFT/CBEC will look into the
connecting the ports online. matter including electronic
payments.

14 Constitution of a Standing It may be accepted.

Committee of Secretaries to sort
out policies and implementation
related issues.
Additional issues raised in the round table meeting taken by the Cabinet
Secretary on 17.5.2013:
1) Move from low-end to medium/higher end garments –other niche segments
(including additional support for technical textiles). DOC to consider.
2) Understanding of FTAs (not only impact on Domestic Market) but also possible
Export Potential. AEPC/DOC to examine the issue for guiding industry.
3) Additional incentives/support is not enough; focus should be on how to make
Industry competitive?
4) Study policy of Bangladesh/Vietnam and give some incentives/procedures –
Designing, Training (Skill Upgradation), Macro issues of cost, Ease of
transactions, TUFs renewal/extension identified as important.

Description of fabrics both for knitwear & woven required by the industry, but
not widely available domestically:
1) 100% Polyester Dyed Fabrics both for knitwear & woven

2) 100% Linen/Blended/Dyed/Printed/Yarn dyed fabrics both for knitwear &

woven

3) Cotton & Spandex Blended/Printed dyed fabrics both for knitwear & woven

4) Cotton and Elastane blended printed fabrics both for knitwear & woven

5) Cotton & spandex & polyester yarn dyed/printed blended fabrics both for
knitwear & woven.

6) Cotton & polyester yarn dyed blended fabrics both for knitwear & woven

7) Cotton & metallic yarn dyed blended fabrics both for knitwear & woven

8) Cotton & spandex & metallic blended fabrics both for knitwear & woven

9) 100% viscose printed fabrics both for knitwear & woven

10) Cotton & elastane printed fabric both for knitwear & woven

11) Cotton & lycra dyed fabric both for knitwear & woven
64
12) Cotton & nylon & spandex dyed/printed blended fabric both for knitwear &
woven

13) Cotton & silk lining fabric both for knitwear & woven

14) Cotton & silk dyed/printed fabric both for knitwear & woven

15) 100% linen chambray woven/dued fabric both for knitwear & woven

16) 100% ramie dyed/blended/printed/yarn dyed fabric both for knitwear & woven

17) Nylon & spandex lining fabrics both for knitwear & woven

18) Polyester/spandex sequin dyed/printed/blended fabric both for knitwear &

woven

19) 100% polyester velvet dyed fabric both for knitwear & woven

20) Nylon/cotton/polyester embroidery fabric both for knitwear & woven

21) Rayon/polyester dyed/printed/blended fabric both for knitwear & woven

22) Polyester/viscose/elastane dyed/printed fabrics both for knitwear & woven

23) Polyester/acrylic/wool & viscose nylon dued/printed/blended fabrics both for

knitwear & woven

24) Cotton/nylon lace fabric both for knitwear & woven

25) 100% polyester knitted grey/dyed/blended/printed fabrics both for knitwear &
woven

26) Cotton/nylon/embroidery croched lace lining fabric both for knitwear & woven

27) 100% rayon died fabric both for knitwear & woven

28) Speciality Fabrics of Cotton both for knitwear & woven

65
10. JHARKHAND SMALL & TINY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 Institutional arrangement should To guide MSME’s, the Associations
be made for dialog with MSME need to be more pro-active and
exporters by reviving Regional inform the MSME’s regarding the
Export Import Advisory export related schemes, procedures
Committees. and facilities of the Government.
(Action: MSME Association)
2 Maximum import license fee Zonal DGFT’s and the Chief
should be different for large Commissioner of Customs should
Scale Industries and MSEs. At regularly convene meetings to
present import license application resolve the issues.
fee is Rs. 2/- per thousand, with (Action: DGFT/CBEC)
ceiling of Rs. 150 thousand.
Thus, those applying for import
license of more than Rs. 75 lacs,
will have to pay maximum
import license application fee of
Rs. 150 thousand. Differential
existed until 1983-84.
3 Higher rate of concession/ May be considered.
incentive should be given to (Action: D/o Commerce)
MSMEs exporters than given to
large industries.

11. Agricultural & Processed Food Product Export Development Authority

(APEDA)
S.No Suggestions Recommendations
1 Direct purchases from the State APMC Acts needs to be
farmers under the Cluster modified, so as to enable direct
Development Program should be purchase of horticulture/
allowed to reduce the production vegetable items by exporters from
costs. the farmers.
2 Infrastructure development Need for greater investment to
which includes setting up of boost post-harvest infrastructure
post-harvest handling facilities, facilities. Need to enhance the
food testing laboratories, Plan funds for such schemes.
packing plants, pack houses etc.
3 Higher assistance under Need to enhance funds for
Marketing Development MDA/MAI.
Assistance (MDA) Scheme/MAI.
4 Incentive Programs may be
devised for assisting the MSME
sector industries for capacity
building in various facets of
domestic and international trade
such as Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP), Good Manu-
facturing Practices (GMP) etc.
66
5 Good potential for organic
products exports (especially from
North East). Traceability
mechanisms exist in India now.
6 Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary
(SPS) issues need to be resolved
for fresh produce exports.
7 Cost of funds for food processing
remains high.
8 APMC Act is hindrance for ex-
porters to purchase from farmers
directly. Fruits/Vegetables need
to be exempted. Incentives may
be considered for states which
amend the APMC Act.
9 Problems of large volumes of
fresh products availability
compounded due to restrictions
on ownership of agricultural
land by non-agriculturists and
contract farming. Higher ceilings
for orchards (like plantations)
could be considered.
10 Modernization of municipal
abattoirs needed as also setting
up of integrated abattoirs in
clusters. Getting NOC from
SPCB’s on issue. Meat exports
have high potential.
11 In order to promote poultry
(chicken, eggs) export zoning for
poultry diseases based on state
boundaries needed.
12 Exporters need to be exempt
from restrictions of storage
quantities under the Essential
Commodities Act.
13 Cold storage capacities need
augmentation.

Additional Issues Raised:

1. 15000 Registered exporters (all MSMEs except basmati rice & buffalo meat)
2. Subsidy 25% or Rs.25 lakhs – for strengthening infrastructure (Common
Facilities)
3. Packaging, Designing etc. to be now given higher subsidy
Mango: a) Vapour Heat Treatment (Requirement of Japan); leads to part
cooking and early spoilageand b) Irradiation (USA) – Nasik (AERB), 2 more by
APEDA at Vashi and Ahmadabad (Gujarat Agro Industries)

67
4. Apeda Scheme:
i) Infra Assistance (Rs.1200 crore 12th Plan)
ii) Transport Assistance
iii) Quality Assistance
iv) Marketing Assistance

5. Other Issues:
a. Cost of working capital too high
b. Packaging assistance required. Scheme to be formulated.
c. MDA/MAI too low
d. APMC amendment – to exclude fruits/vegetable & contract farming.

6. Direct purchase from farmers

7. Exempt from land holding (e.g. plantation crops, tea, coffee, rubber)

8. Processed Foods – Limited exports

9. Cold Storage shortage – 36 million tonnes, last year sanctioned only 1 million
tonnes. NHB has own scheme. RKVY, APEDA also fund cold storages.

10. Meat export has huge potential (like China, DOC should manage with Russia &
Saudi Arabia.

11. Poultry (Issue of Avian Influenza) Oman, Afghanistan, Kuwait main markets

12. Protocol with OIE to give individual states specific (rather than whole India
being treated as whole)

13. Increase modern Abattoirs

14. Organic product can be boosted (e.g. North East)

15. Traceability to farm ensured on Computer

16. Clearance by Quality Inspector

68
12. THE PLASTICS EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL
S.No. Suggestion Recommendation
1 There is an urgent need to May be considered. D/o
increase the export of value Chemicals to examine and
added plastic items and increase formulate TUFS for plastic
its share in the total plastic processing sector.
exports. A major constraint in
achieving this goal is the loss
production volume of plastic
processing industry.
Technology Upgradation Fund is
therefore essential for Plastic
Processing Sector.
2 Formation of SPV for the It is recommended to enhance the
purpose of Joint Marketing. MDA budget.
Enhancement of budget for the
MDA Scheme.
3 Setting up of Plastic Processing D/o Chemicals to closely monitor
Parks, having facilities for design and expedite progress of the
and prototyping of plastic items, PCPIR projects. For Common
mould & die design centres, tool Facility/Design Center, Scheme of
rooms etc. Action on setting up D/o MSME may also be tapped.
of 4 PCPIRs to be expedited.
4 Consideration of East Europe DOC to examine the issue.
under the MDA Scheme.
5 The costs of PCFC need to be It needs to be verified if under
reduced. PCFC, the limits are converted
into INR and on payment
reconverted to USD leading to
losses for exporter.

13. ALL INDIA PLASTIC INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION

S. No. Issues Recommendations
1 4% Additional Custom Duty DGFT/CBEC to check if there are any
issues regarding refund of SAD; and if
so, to resolve the same.

14. EXIM BANK

S. No. Suggestions Recommendations

1. In 2007-08, Apparels was having MoLE may examine this.

a major contribution in Exports
but at present, MSME Exports
don’t expand beyond a level due
to labor rules. Thus, labor laws
in Apparel sector needs to be
revised.
69
 2. Definition of MSME needs to be The possibility of incorporating
modernized. In Bangladesh, it is employee numbers may be
defined in terms of number of examined.
employees (less than 200 for
small enterprises), but in India,
definition is based on capital
investment.
3. For Chemicals & Leather, cluster A scheme for the same may be
approach should be adopted and started.
assistance should be provided
like cluster scheme of
Electronics. Common Facility
Centres are required, also due to
the need for meeting
environmental standards.
4. Investment in High Tech Exports Specific suggestions would be
Units is required to be made. required so that they can be taken
Policy measures are required to forward.
be taken to encourage
entrepreneurs to move in this
direction.
5. In Food Processing, Quality Alternatives for Quality
Certification is a major issue Certification may be examined.
where costs are very high. This
issue needs to be addressed.

15. ECGC

1. 50% of export credit must go to May be recommended.

MSMEs.
2. ECGC ensures flow of credit to
exporters (68% of total export
credit covered by ECGC).
3. A separate ECGC policy, with This may be examined.
more friendly procedures, is
required for Small & Micro
Exporters (based on Export
Turnover).

16. DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND PROMOTION

S. No. Suggestions Recommendations

1. Exports will not be able to pick up It is recognized that manu-
unless production picks up. facturing has to be increased.
Therefore, focus should be on
boosting production from the
supply side.
2. Clusters need to be provided with This may be incorporated in the
Common Facility Centres. relevant scheme.
70
 3. Ensuring uninterrupted power The possibility of isolating power
supply to the export-oriented supply for such clusters and the
MSME clusters would increase costs could be examined.
working hours and labour
productivity and therefore
exportable surplus.
4. The MSME clusters situated close Such clusters may be identified
to the National Highway or railway for a focused approach.
corridors need to be focused on for
facilitation for boosting exports.
5. It would be desirable for the Linkages with different technical
Technical Institutions such as the institutions including CSIR labs
IIT or the NIT to ‘adopt’ export could be considered.
oriented MSME clusters to
support technological innovation
and design. Preferably, ‘design
clinics’ may be set up for MSME
clusters.

Additional Information:
The DIPP has also recently issued a clarification on definition of cluster for obtaining
benefits of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP).

17.Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

S.No Suggestions Recommendations

1 Taxation:
i) Stop banks from recovering May be examined
service tax on inward foreign
remittances.
ii) Policy should clearly state
that for grant of Rebate amount,
Bank Realisation Certificate
(BRC) should not be insisted.
iii) Exporters should be allowed
to take credit in line with Cenvat
credit.
iv) The Duty Drawback scheme
benefit should be provided for
the entire Electronics systems
design and Manufacturing
(ESDM) sector.
2 Access to Finance:
i) It is suggested that the PCFC Recommended
credit be provided at LIBOR +
200 basis points.
ii) Rupee Export Credit, both Pre
and Post shipment should be
provided at 2.5% below the base
rate through refinancing
71
mechanism so that it is possible
to export at competitive prices.
iii) Banks should revise their
CMA data formats to follow RBI
guidelines w.r.t. “Treatment of
Term Loan Installments”.
iv) To address the issue of timely
and low cost availability of credit
to the MSMEs, RBI may
constitute a group along with
the Indian Banks Association
and the credit rating agencies to
work out a uniform credit rating
format and process to bring
transparency and speed to this
important issue.
v) There is a need to revise the
NPA norms for a period of 2-3
years to enable the banks to re-
structure the financial facilities
offered to this sector.
vi) The Government should
declare the possibility of offering
differential rates of interest for
MSMEs.
vii) There is a need to widen the
scope of interest subvention to
ensure larger exporter segment
derive benefit from the Scheme.
viii) Relaxation of RBI’s external
commercial borrowings (ECB) to
allow all categories of
engineering exporters to raise
ECBs for import of capital goods
and equipment.
ix) In order to reduce the MSME
credit gap, Scheduled Com-
mercial Banks, may be directed
to maintain minimum 22% in
their outstanding credit growth
to MSME sector during the first
two years from 2013-15 and
further minimum 25% during
the remaining three years from
2015-18.
x) Banks should achieve 10%
increase in new micro enter-
prises borrowers on annual
basis between 2013-17. Banks
should also look at adding 12
72
new MSMEs in their Semi Urban
and Urban branches.
xi) Guarantee coverage under
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for
MSMEs (CGTMSE) may be
increased to at least 10 times
the corpus.
xii) Industry Associations can
become an effective institutional
mechanism for facilitating credit
flow to MSME sector. The model
adopted by SIDBI in this
direction may be replicated by
lead banks in their domain
MSME clusters.
xiii) It is suggested that export
finance for which refinance is
being provided by the RBI,
banks may not charge spread
beyond a specific cap.
xiv) A nodal agency could be set
up for borrowing in foreign
currency from abroad on a pool
basis and further lend to MSME
companies in India at
competitive rates for techno-
logical upgradation.
xv) SIDBI and NSIC may be
permitted to raise SLR bonds /
Tax free bonds / Capital Gain
Bonds from the market as per
the eligibility limit fixed by GOI.
xvi) It is suggested to introduce
a new scheme to supplement
Promoters Contribution in case
of projects proposed to be
implemented by MSMEs to avail
of loans from Banks or Financial
Institutions.
xvii) It is suggested to introduce
a scheme called “Need for
Factoring Services” with a
budgetary support of Rs.750
crore in the next 4 years under
which assistance would be
provided for equity or margin
money support for factoring
companies to publicize the
scheme.
xviii) The policy of working out
73
 preferential access to new
markets and putting in place
conducive trading arrangements
with trading partners through
PTAs, FTAs and CECAs/CEPAs
to be continued and expanded.
3 Improve Risk Mitigation for
Exporters: May be examined by ECGC
At present ECGC reportedly
requires banks to take insurance
for the entire export advance
book while issuing whole
turnover policy. The payment of
premium for covering the entire
export advance book may work
out to be expensive proposition
for banks as the margins are
thin in corporate deals. Hence,
ECGC may consider introducing
new schemes permitting banks
to cover segment/sector specific
portfolios.
4 Export Promotion / Marketing
Activities: Suggestions for export promotion
i) There is a need to create are recommended
awareness about various
schemes available for MSMEs
exporters in India. The State
Governments too should be
given the liberty to use the
ASIDE scheme for promoting the
MSMEs.
ii) IBEF’s primary objective is to
promote and create international
awareness of the Made in India
label in markets overseas and to
facilitate the dissemination of
knowledge of Indian products
and services. Against this
backdrop, a fund to subsidize
MSMEs’ marketing operations
would be a step in the right
direction.
iii) The Convergence of “Market
Development Assistance”
scheme run by Ministry of
MSME, NSIC, KVIC and Ministry
of Commerce needs to be made.
iv) Exporters need to frequently
incur soft expenditures like
74
 branding, advertisement,
promotional events for which
financial availability is limited.
These expenses need to be
encouraged through various
means, including a concept of
double tax deduction and
allowing eligible companies to
deduct against their taxable
income twice the amount of
expenses incurred on certain
qualifying activities.
v) To provide preferential access
to “Manufacture in India”
electronic products and “Indian
Electronic Products” for all
government procurement and
procurement by Government
licensees.
5 Technology & Competi-
tiveness: These suggestions may be
i) Ministry of MSME, through its recommended
arm NSIC can consider looking
at providing a platform for
technological alliance for SSI’s
with Global Companies.
ii) We need to undergo a
vigorous cluster development
process to improve the compete-
tiveness of traditional products.
iii) National labs should be given
special funding for undertaking
testing for MSMEs.
iv) M/o MSME needs to launch
a Technology acquisition scheme
to provide assistance in both,
development of indigenous R&D
products as well as procurement
of global technology.
v) The key sectors which are
likely to have high growth need
to be given specific focus.
vi) The focus on clean energy
related technology and
renewable energy will have to be
given to make MSME sector
more energy efficient.
vii) The Emerging sectors may
be provided assistance on a
higher scale under each of the
75
 three proposed schemes for
technology acquisition, procure-
ment of equipment and support
for soft skills, respectively.
viii) Higher scale of assistance
may be decided for adoption of
clean manufacturing techno-
logies, renewable energy sources
and environment friendly
processes.
ix) NMCP has a separate
component of ICT application. As
ICT today covers all areas of
activity of an enterprise –
Processing, training, marketing
and infrastructure planning etc.
the need for a separate
component on ICT may be
reconsidered.
x) The use of new concepts such
as cloud computing will offer an
effective and affordable solutions
for early ICT penetration.
xi) TUFS for the engineering
sector, particularly, the MSME
sector, needs to be introduced.
6 FDI by NRI’s in MSME Sector:
There are different agencies
handling policy and implemen-
tation of NRI investments into
the SMEs. This leads to the need
for a Single window of
information for attracting FDI by
NRI’s.
7 Policy & Procedural Issues:
i) There is a need to enhance the These issues may be examined
limit on investment in plant and by CBEC/DGFT
machinery by MSMEs.
ii) Dispense with the installation
certificate from Central Excise
for the import of capital goods
under EPCG scheme and
consider Chartered Engineers
certificate along with self-
declaration form from the
importer.
iii) The MSMEs Exports would
benefit if the SHIS benefit
eligibility could be extended until
2019 as it has been withdrawn
76
 from the year 2013-14 and also
allowing transfer of scrips to
third parties.
iv) DGFT needs to review the
processing of E-BRC scrips
process for helping MSME
exports.
8 Infrastructural Development
for MSMEs: May be examined by State
i) Private sector should also be Governments
allowed for development of
Infrastructure specially for
MSMEs.
ii) Availability of land should be
ensured for MSMEs. State
Governments may earmark at
least one Industrial Estate per
block.
iii) GOI can consider providing
50% subsidy to the Micro Units
to buy Gensets which could be
used for uninterrupted
manufacturing process.
iv) There is a need to set up Recommended
quality testing laboratories for
MSMEs in almost every
industrial area.
v) Towards enhancing skill level
of workers of MSME sectors,
setting up of 100 Tool
rooms/Technology Development
centre is recommended.
9 Promoting MSME Exports in
Defence Sector: Recommended
FDI in Defence sector by
liberalization of FDI rules.
The threshold for offset policy for
procurement should be reduced
to Rs.75 crore.
The tenure of banked offset
clause which has been recently
introduced needs to be increased
to around 5 years.
30% OFFSET policy of Ministry
of Defence should be made very
transparent.
18. Ministry of Food Processing Industries
S.No. Suggestions Recommendations
1 Cold chain/storage facility is
one of the critical infrastructural Greater Focus may be
77
 gaps. It is necessary that this recommended
sector should receive priority.
Estimated requirement of
investment is Rs.25788 crore.
For the XII Plan period,
allocation of Rs.700 crore is
done. The scheme should be
made open ended with signi-
ficant step up in allocation.
2 Problem in procurement of raw
material due to restrictive May be recommended
provisions in APMC Act. Market
reforms carried out by the
States vary from State to State.
Some degree of uniformity in
terms of the provision in the
Model Act is needed for
ensuring smooth supply of raw
materials.
3 Most of the processed food
products were brought under This needs to be examined by
levy of excise duties from CBEC.
March, 2011. Thus processed
food products, except fruits,
vegetables and milk products,
attract excise duty of 2%
without CENVAT facility and of
6%-12% with CENVAT facility.
It also attract VAT ranging from
4% to 16% at state level.
Further, the excise duty of 6-
12% is also levied on food
processing equipments. For
attracting investment to the
sector, exemption is required.
There is also a need to revise
the current turnover limit of
Rs.1.5 crore at least up to Rs.5
crore for exemption of Central
Excise duty for SSI units which
was fixed way back in 2007.
4 There is a need to widen the
scope of Interest Subvention on
Export Credit.
5 The process of disbursement of
incentives announced for The Transaction Committee may
exports is too cumbersome. The examine this.
existing modus operandi of
implementation of enacted
policies is a major issue. India
78
 needs process reforms
alongside policy reforms.
6 a) The benefit under Vishesh
Krishi Gram Udyog Yojana May be recommended.
which was withdrawn from
meat & meat products around
two years back, should be
restored.
b) Efforts should be made for
establishing equivalence of SPS
measures/standards between
India and other importing
countries.
c) MOU has been signed with
China for export of deboned
and deglanded frozen buffalo
meat. Similar agreements need
to be pursued with other
countries.
d) APEDA should facilitate and
give hand holding services to
the promoters of abattoirs.
Similarly, Dimapur Abattoir
could facilitate access to
Yangon for export of meat
products.
7 There is a need for selecting few
products and of providing full This needs to be examined by DoC.
scale support in terms of
complete supply chain,
marketing and processing
infrastructure to scale up
production and exports.
There is need for intervention
by a single agency for few
products with a scale of
investment necessary to
generate critical mass of
production and export.

79
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Printed by Budget Press, Ministry of Finance, Deptt. of Economic Affairs, New Delhi